Body modification originated from the indigenous people in tribal cultures and within religion. The people of New Zealand who practice Tā Moko which is the permanent body and face marking by Māori, its traditions distinct from tattoo and tatau in the skin which was carved by chisels rather than punctures. This left the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface. They believe it was to show higher ranking and anyone without Moko was considered of a lower class, it was said to be a valuable milestone between child and adulthood which alongside had many rites and rituals. Not only was identifying status important but the tradition was used to make someone more attractive and show true identity. It was generally on the men’s faces, buttocks and thighs and for women, lips and chin. However, other parts of the body to have Moko were women’s forehead, buttocks, back, neck and thighs and men’s backs, stomachs and calves. Women continued to receive Moko right up till the 20th century whereas men stopped in the 1260s for acceptance of others. This introduces the theory of gatekeeping, so we filter out information that we don't want to receive negative perceptions for.
