Wiremu Te Rangikāheke, a leader of the Ngāti Rangiwewehi people of Rotorua, wrote nearly 800 pages of manuscripts on Māori language, genealogy, legends, history, customs and other subjects. This page describes the ceremonies for tattooing a chief, and the method of performing the operation. It also includes an example of a tattoo design. Te Rangikāheke wrote this highly valuable material while advising Governor George Grey on Māori language and customs. Grey later reused some of Te Rangikāheke's work, without acknowledgement, in his published collections of Māori songs and legends.
Using this item
Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference:
7-C1926
Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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