Broadcast Journalist Makes History with Face Tattoos

If you were to close your eyes and imagine the appearance of a television journalist, you’d likely conjure up a clean cut individual without a shred of visible ink on their bodies. By and large, news journalists appeal to older audiences and networks prefer to be represented by people with conservative appearances. However, a 35-year-old woman from Auckland, New Zealand recently broke down major barriers by appearing on TVNZ 1 with a face tattoo.

​Oriini Kaipara is a broadcast journalist of Maori descent, belonging to the Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa people. In 2017, she learned of her 100% Maori ancestry and in January of this year, she got a moko kauae. A moko kauae is a traditional chin tattoo worn by Maori women and a rite of passage in the culture. Kaipara’s presence on broadcast television is a major milestone for Maori representation and the normalization of their cultural practices.

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