A moko on the face is the ultimate statement of one's identity as a Māori. The head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body. To wear the moko on the face is to bear an undeniable declaration of who you are. Women wear moko on the face too. and The marks on his face are called ta moko. ... The traditional way of applying ta moko to the face was to dip a narrow blade in black pigment and then tap the blade with a mallet to chisel deep incisions into the skin. This process left permanent grooves in the skin. Caterpillars were used to make the pigment for ta moko.
