Moko Kauae Manawa - AIO

A mark of legacy, identity, and unwavering strength, Moko Kauae is more than ink on skin—it is a living story, etched in wairua and carried with pride. This piece honours the sacred moko kauae, a taonga passed down through generations, connecting wāhine Māori to their tūpuna, their mana, and their purpose.

The elongated, overextended lines soar beyond the present moment, representing the unbroken flow of whakapapa. They remind us that we are never alone—our tīpuna reach forward through time, their essence woven into our being, guiding us, lifting us. These flowing forms echo the breath of wairua, the unseen currents that bind the physical and spiritual realms.

In the AIO colourway, this piece embodies peace, harmony, and balance. Like the moko kauae itself, it is a declaration: I know who I am. I stand in my tūpuna’s light.

Glossary

• Moko Kauae – Sacred chin tattoo of wāhine Māori, symbolizing whakapapa and mana
• Manawa – Heart, heartbeat, deep essence of life
• Wairua – Spirit, the unseen essence of all things
• Whakapapa – Genealogy, connection to ancestors and creation
• Mana – Authority, presence, spiritual power
• Tūpuna / Tīpuna – Ancestors