The Maoris are people of Polynesian origin who have inhabited New Zealand for more than a thousand years. Their culture is rich with myth, legends and art forms including body art or tattoos. In fact Maori tribal tattoos have religious significance and its is a matter of tradition for every Maori man or woman to have his own unique tattoo pattern. For them it was more than just body art. It was an expression of a person's unique personality. Today Maori tattoo art is quite popular, with celebrities like Robbie Williams and Ben Harper sporting Maori inspired tattoos. In this article I talk about traditional Maori tribal tattoos and explore the meaning that underlies the rich symbolism found in Maori culture and art.