"My moko kauae, as a woman of the Whanganui River, is not just a gimmick, an advertisement, nor a political statement. It has been part of the planned course of my life, where I was brought up by my mother, nannies and whanau on our marae Kaiwhaiki to love my culture, our language, and the traditions of our people," she said.
She said the women who had been chosen and chose to wear moko kauae had committed to many roles to keep Maori culture and language alive.
"Whether it be through our song, creative arts, working on the land, corporate business, or upholding our marae as Kaikaranga - custodians to call and welcome others."
Ms Takiari said she wore her genealogy on her skin. "A pride that cannot be rubbed off, that comes with me wherever I go - at home or around the world - to reiterate that our culture and our people are amazing."
The increase in women receiving ta moko is not just in Wanganui. A Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi doctoral student claims 40 per cent of Maori women have or are thinking of getting ta moko.
Mr Gardiner said he has also noticed a number of Australian Maori getting ta moko to regain some of their identity. And an increasing number of Pakeha and people from as far afield as Spain and the Galapagos Islands had come to his Wanganui studio for the tattoos.
"It can bother other practitioners but not me - as long as they come with a good reason to do it," he said.
There are currently about 10 ta moko artists in Wanganui."I believe there was a time where it was dying out. In the 80s and 90s, there was a significant decline, but a few ta moko practitioners brought it back to life."
