Story: Samoans

Fa‘asamoa (Samoan culture) inevitably changed in New Zealand. However, many Samoans continued the traditional practice of tattooing. The pe‘a tattoo, shown here in a self-portrait by Greg Semu, is worn by men and normally extends from the waist to the knee. The pe‘a is a very painful process which can take several weeks to complete. It is a rite of passage for Samoan males.