For my 40th, my eldest daughter gave me something I’ll never forget—a tattoo session at Otautahi Tattoo in Tāhuna (Queenstown). Honestly, it was the most thoughtful gift. I’d been talking about getting my moko tāniko and a throat piece for a while—something to sit beautifully alongside my moko kauae. And this was finally the moment.

My artist was Ren (Renata)—a mean-as tā moko artist and a familiar face from back in the day when I lived up north. Bit of a full-circle moment really. We met up for a kōrero, shared some laughs, and I laid down the vision for what I wanted this next piece to embody.

Ren took my whakaaro and turned it into something incredible. He sketched a rough draft while explaining the symbolism and flow of the design—making sure every detail had meaning, every line a purpose.

At the heart of my moko tāniko is a diamond. That diamond represents my husband, Andrew. Holding that centre are six tukutuku panels—each one representing one of my six beautiful tamariki. That’s my core. My heartbeat. My why.

Taniko, for those who don’t know, is the traditional Māori art of intricate weaving. Moko tāniko reflects that—it’s about the weaving of stories, identities, ideas and priorities. It’s the binding of generations. The merging of past, present, and future. It’s the connection to my whānau, etched into skin.