This photograph of an unidentified Maori man with a moko (facial tattoo) was taken in 1880.
Some Christian missionaries disapproved of moko, arguing that they were a heathen practice, so some Maori men let their facial hair grow to cover their tattoos.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PA2-2215.
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
How to cite this page
'Moko and beard', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/maori-man-with-moko, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 15-Jul-2013
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