Kia Ora,
In honour of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language week), I had the pleasure of sitting down with Fern for a korero (conversation) about her journey with Te Reo Maori and Tattooing Tā moko.
Jack: Where did your journey with speaking Te Reo Maori begin?
Fern: I learnt Te Reo Maori through school. My dad is Maori and my mum is Pakeha. My dad has a huge family but none of them spoke Te Reo, they grew up in the time where their language was pushed out of them and Te Reo wasn’t allowed to be spoken. They all attended Catholic school and didn’t learn about Te Reo Maori so my parents decided that they didn’t want to raise us that way. My sisters and I went to Bi-linguial school and thats where I learnt Te Reo Maori.
Jack: How do you incorporate Te Reo into your daily life?
Fern: I don’t speak it as much as I would like to but that comes down to environment. I speak it at home with my housemate Katelyn, at Moko Wananga and with clients. Its a way of thinking and a way of life so in my personal life I honour it more. Ultimately it’s my outlook on life. Thats what I am trying to tap into in the studio is to create an environment where it shines through more. But it’s a journey and happens slowly.
Jack: When did you start recognising the imagery and how has that had an influence on your life/ creative outlets?
Fern: When I was younger, I was really intrigued about our Maori Myths and Legends and the stories they held. There would always be Kowhaiwhai patterns in the Marae and books so from a young age I was so intrigued and thought they were so beautiful. Then when I was older I slowly started learning about the meanings behind the patterns and looking at something knowing there is a story behind it. For example Ta Moko comes from our Kowhaiwhai patterns in our Marae and on our boats.
Then I started drawing Moko and playing around with it when I was about 12 and recognised that this was what I wanted to do. It just came so instinctively. There was no instagram back then and limited images on Google but I used to look at these images and just had a feeling I knew that was going to be me (creating Ta Moko). During school, all of my books were filled with Moko and I had a lot of encouragement from teachers to look into tattooing. I wanted it to happen as naturally as possible, which it did!
Jack: What was the process from getting your first Ta Moko to getting an apprenticeship?
Fern: I received my first Ta Moko when I was 16 from Gordon Toi. I saw my sister get hers when I was 12 and knew I wanted to get my first one so I begged my mum and when I was 16 she let me. The deal was if my sister got one then I could get one. She got her sternum done and I got my back done.
The apprenticeship offer came from Tristan (Manawa Tapu). My brother told me I needed to check out his work and I fell in love with it instantly! I booked in and got tattooed by him at Sunset Tattoo. Then he started following my instagram account that was dedicated to drawing. Shortly after my 21st, I had a DM from him asking if I wanted to come into the studio to talk with him and Tom about an apprenticeship. I freaked out about it but came in and the rest is history. As I said earlier, I wanted it to happen naturally and it did, but with a lot of hard work.
Jack: How has starting your tattooing journey influenced your relationship with Te Ao Maori?
Fern: This journey is making me go deeper into my culture and learning and understand the meanings of Moko. Getting my foot in the door with Sunset Tattoo has opened up so many doors for my learning and opportunities like getting to go to Moko Wananga. It has really just putting me in the places I need to be to grow for myself but also as an artist!
Jack: What would your piece of advice be to someone wanting to get their first Tā moko?
Fern: Do your research! Find the right artist that you feel connected to and that you trust because your tattoo is on your for life. Go to your Iwi. Go to people you resonate with. Have a consultation with them. Ask about them. Do you research and think about the reasons why you want to get Moko. It holds Mana! Talk to your family, talk to the right artists, talk to people who have received Moko. Just do your research, theres no rush.
There are 3 questions to think about:
What do you want it to represent?
Why do you want it now?
Why do you want it on that placement?
Go deeper that just something on your skin!
Jack: Any famous last works Fern?
Fern: Just be kind to one another. Tell your aunty you love her. Tell your nana you love her. Go hug more people (not during Covid). Straight up just be nice to people. Smile at people. Ask them how their day is. Honestly do it! It makes a difference!
Jack: Thanks for your time Fern!
…
Sunset Tattoo is the home of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated tattooists, and located on Cross Street of Central Auckland, just behind iconic Karangahape Road (K Road). We specialise in timeless, professional tattoo styles such as Japanese, Maori, America/western traditional and black work. With a friendly team, a gorgeous studio and decades of knowledge we would love to help you with your next tattoo project. For more information, get in touch with us.
CONTACT:
www.sunsettattoo.co.nz
info@sunsettattoo.co.nz
(+649)3763423