Ruahine: Stories In Her Skin

Directed by Hiona Henare

A beautifully lyrical and intimate documentary following the ceremony of two women receiving their traditional moko kauae (chin tattoo). For Maori women receiving their traditional moko kauae, they are visually asserting their birthright and identity while celebrating the mana (spiritual power) of their whakapapa (ancestry). In Maori tradition, the head is considered the most tapu (sacred) part of the human body making the practice of moko kauae highly prestigious and exclusive to Maori women. Director Hiona Henare brings us into an uninhibited and unobstructed experience filled with traditional songs and story.