The Kaupapa Māori Tikanga & Kawa for Indigenous Māori Hair & Makeup Artists:
An Attempt In Self-Preservation To Reconnect To Our Divine Spirituality.

A Taonga Tuku Iho submitted to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in partial fulfilment of the Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge requirements.

Taonga Tuku Iho

Kōkōwai

     Disentangling Ranginui and Papatūānuku embrace required severing their limbs, resulting in a tsunami of blood seeping into the Earth’s core. The bleeding font of red clay is the origin of kōkōwai, the consecrated red of Māori. From the first female atua came the menstrual cycle lava flowed through Rūaumoko, pouring into the world; air met fire, and the tears of Ranginui solidified to create landmasses. Our D.N.A. travelled within the firey discharge from the vulva of Papatūānuku.

     The kōkōwai obtained from mineral-rich clays, combined with water, is the basis of mineral cosmetics Māori use for personal protection and adornment. The red ochre was burned by fire, and ground into a fine powder mixed with shark oil to make paint known as kōkōwai, the red on marae and waka. The Tohunga Suppressions Act, of 1907 minimised natural practices and rituals. Egyptians created restorative mineral cosmetics as early as 10000 B.C. All indigenous nations used red ochre. Māori mixed it with shark liver oil as a sunscreen and insect repellant that reflected the light appearing luminous due to the metallic particles when buffed into the skin shimmer, enhancing human attraction for a radiant, younger appearance.          

     Both sexes wore cosmetics, and Māori male grooming involved skincare using kōkōwai and oils for their ta moko and entire body to shimmer. In 1769 soon after, the British requested Māori removed the kōkōwai from their physical being eliminating the tapu red (ochre) of Māori. The holistic and spiritual protective benefits were replaced by religion, severing a direct connection to the blood of Papatūānuku. 

Mauri-Tātai Makeup Brushes

     The image at the base of the handle is Rūaumoko symbolising growth and the need for solid foundations. A makeup foundation must have a solid base to maintain the subsequent processes, which will slip off if unstable. The triangles depict an ascension through the resistance of taukumekume towards acceptance of resistant taukumekume as each step achieves change. Finally, acceptance of taukumekume is the Harrier Hawk’s self-determination, our divine selves a wairuatanga mauri reconnection

Wai-Tapu

     These liquid spritzers action an immediate sensation of refreshment, affecting one physically, emotionally and mentally. Māori evolution from Tangaroa is a philosophy that explains the human need to cleanse the seen and unseen with water. I use Wai-Tapu to shift my clients. The addition of Hawaiian Salts furthers the rongoā experience of preparing my client’s wairua mauri reconnection. 

Whaka-whiti-mauritau Sessions

Tūpāpaku

Spirit Festival