A recent example makes this painfully clear. Brian Gardiner, a man with a face covered in what he insists is a meaningful tā moko tattoo, was denied entry to a pub in Australia. He reckons his tā moko tattoo symbolised ancestors who served in the military. Looking at the thing, it’s hard to see anything other than a chaotic mess of ink - more reminiscent of John Wayne Gacy’s clown face than a tribute to military service. The symbolism he claims is buried under a pile of scribbles that no one outside his own mind could decipher.
No one outside your Facebook feed gives a damn about your ancestors or whether you think the tattoo represents an eagle, a shark, or some mystical creature only you can identify. People aren’t trying to disrespect your heritage, they’re reacting to the reality of your choices. Facial tattoos carry an undeniable stigma, and walking into an establishment expecting them to be ignored is just plain naive.
Gardiner, of course, argued with security staff and the manager, insisting he would escalate the matter. Ultimately, he left empty-handed, looking like the fool he made himself out to be. The staff didn’t care. The rules exist for a reason: safety, comfort, and public perception. They aren’t there to accommodate someone’s questionable life choices.
No one outside your Facebook feed gives a damn about your ancestors or whether you think the tattoo represents an eagle, a shark, or some mystical creature only you can identify. People aren’t trying to disrespect your heritage, they’re reacting to the reality of your choices. Facial tattoos carry an undeniable stigma, and walking into an establishment expecting them to be ignored is just plain naive.
Gardiner, of course, argued with security staff and the manager, insisting he would escalate the matter. Ultimately, he left empty-handed, looking like the fool he made himself out to be. The staff didn’t care. The rules exist for a reason: safety, comfort, and public perception. They aren’t there to accommodate someone’s questionable life choices.
His facial tā moko supposedly includes ancestral symbols like a hawk and shark, and references military service - but to me, it just looks like a jumble of scribbles.
If you choose to get a design that looks like a clown, a jumbled mess, or something no normal person can read, don’t be surprised when establishments enforce their policies and refuse entry. Personal expression is fine, but don’t expect society to rewrite its rules to accommodate your poor life decisions. The moment you put permanent ink on your face, you take on the consequences, and whining about it afterwards only makes you look even more ridiculous.
Facial tattoos and tā moko are not a free pass. They’re a life choice with social consequences. Own it, or be prepared to face rejection - without anyone shedding a single tear for your “symbolism.”
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
If you choose to get a design that looks like a clown, a jumbled mess, or something no normal person can read, don’t be surprised when establishments enforce their policies and refuse entry. Personal expression is fine, but don’t expect society to rewrite its rules to accommodate your poor life decisions. The moment you put permanent ink on your face, you take on the consequences, and whining about it afterwards only makes you look even more ridiculous.
Facial tattoos and tā moko are not a free pass. They’re a life choice with social consequences. Own it, or be prepared to face rejection - without anyone shedding a single tear for your “symbolism.”
Matua Kahurangi is just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes. He blogs on https://matuakahurangi.com/ where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
Brian Gardiner got what he wanted, which was attention. The Maori word that applies to him is whakahihi.
The facial.tattoo wearers are so.used to being worshipped in nz that thet get a huge reality check when they leave nz. You do think "gang" and " ctiminal" when you see the facial tattoos. The moko on the women always looks like they have a beard. I mean, good on them if they want to get that. It is individual.choice . But just don't expect other people to say wonderful it is.
Share your sentiments, matua. But let’s probe stuff’s full court press style to ‘defend’ man’s and fulfill their post-pijf commitments;
Stuffed on Style, Starved of Substance
Brian Gardiner (Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Te Arawa, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi) might have been turned away from an Aussie pub, but the way Stuff reported it you’d think it was an epic of cultural injustice. The story had two bylines – Karanama Ruru and Eva Gallot – but not much in the way of basic reporting. Ruru, a national reporter known for his coverage of te ao Māori, crime, culture, and everything in between, and Gallot, covering community and regional news were sent on the mission.
They described their subject as a “former professional Rugby League winger” but we’re never told who he played for or when. Pretty basic detail. Nor do we hear what he’s been doing since. A decent editor would have sent the reporters back for that.
The main claim is that the pub wouldn’t let him in because of his moko, but there’s no sign anyone actually phoned the place to check its rules, or even asked if the bouncer was acting on his own.
Or if the pub, like many other Aussie pubs had that rule in place. Pub management response was deemed unnecessarily distracting to the narrative? Instead we just get Gardiner’s account, written up — one voice, two reporters required.
Then there’s the padding. Whole quotes appear to be lifted straight from the ABC. And, just to give Gardiner a bit of borrowed shine, the piece includes a random photo of him with Jacinda Ardern – no explanation, no relevance, just there to boost the “mana” by association.
As if a photo with the selfie dame gives one unfettered access to any establishment. And of course, right up front, we get the full list of Gardiner’s tribal affiliations, because Stuff never misses a chance to frame stories through whakapapa. But the actual nuts-and-bolts questions – the ones readers might want answered – are left untouched.
Two reporters, one minor incident, and somehow no real work done. That’s where Stuff is at these days.
Making mountains out of molehills.
I understand the disfigurements can be removed and that many are. What is the policy? Is it generally free? is anyone keeping account? Or is it like a student loan incurring interest forever?
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