Message misread, say moko stalwarts

The actions of a soccer referee, who told Kerikeri Totalspan goalie Levi Harris to remove his painted face moko or not play, have angered Northland ta moko artists and bearers.
After a kapa haka performance on Saturday, 16-year-old Levi joined his team mates in a soccer match against Kaikohe Spaziocasa.
Levi wanted to carry the spirit of his kapa haka performance with him, but was told by referee Mike Stather to wash off his moko because it was intimidating the opposition.
Two Maori members of the Kaikohe team had told the referee they felt intimidated by the mock moko.
Acclaimed Kerikeri ta moko artist Te Rangitu Netana - who famously inked Robbie Williams's arm - said a moko was not an intimidating sign.
Mr Netana said the facial markings were a representation of the bearer's ancestors, past achievements and ranking within his or her tribe, not a symbol of brutality or war.
"Perhaps the way the All Blacks and Maori people are marketed as fierce warriors allows the moko to be connected with violence but a moko is not for that purpose. The moko is honourable and sacred so shame on the referee for allowing a moko to be deemed in a intimidating way," he said.
Mr Netana said there had been a resurgence in moko for both men and women as a sign of cultural identity and a general revival of the language and culture.
"I think it's sad that there is a lack of understanding of Maori culture. The referee should have thought about what a ta moko means before making Levi remove it," he said.
Ngati Hine Health Trust worker Del Bristow, of Kawakawa, has worn her kauae (chin moko) for a year and says she hasn't received negative reactions - but admits it is the first thing people look at.
"People have an immediate reaction towards my kauae but it is related to their perceptions and not my own feelings. People did used to be frightened of facial markings but I hoped that people were more accepting now and we had changed as a community and a people," she said. "Society has to become accepting of people's beliefs and cultures."
Levi also couldn't understand how his cultural heritage could cause such offence.
"When I got to the game and starting warming up, the referee told me to wash it off because it was intimidating to the other players. How can a 16-year-old with a painted face intimidate a senior football team?" he said.
Soccer's governing body in Northland, United Soccer 1, has backed Mr Stather's decision.
Keith Johnston, chief executive of United Soccer 1, said all game decisions were made at the time by the referee. "The refs have discretion, and there's nothing specifically in the rules about anything like a face moko," he said.
* What is a moko?
" The full-face moko is borne by men, while on women the kauae (chin moko) is restricted to the chin, upper lip and nostrils.
" The moko differs from other forms of tattooing in that it is carved into the skin.
" Traditionally moko was created with a uhi (chisel) which was hit into the skin with a mallet.
" Moko have a personal significance to the bearer with the markings signifying the person's status, ancestors and achievements.
" Ta moko means to strike or tap.
" Non-Maori can bear moko. Early white settlers Barnet Burns and John "White Chief" Rutherford received the honour of a moko.
" Moko created with a chisel take a long time to heal - up to three months - and during the late 1800s and early 1900s when Maori living conditions were extremely poor, moko recipients were more susceptible to infection and death.