Profile

Kia ora koutou katoa, greetings to you all and welcome to the official Mokoira Website.

My name is Henare Brooking, but I am known to most as 'Nare'. I am a descendant of both Ngāti Porou and Rongowhakaata iwi. I grew up on the East Coast of the North Island in Aotearoa (New Zealand), namely Te Araroa and Mangatokerau Valley, Uawa (Tolaga Bay).

Like many artists there are many who have people of inspiration and encouragement and I am no different.

For as long as I can remember Māori art has been a key part of my life. My initial grounding in Toi Māori came from my father Jack Brooking who is a Tohunga Whakairo of Ngāti Porou. His inspiration and influence gives direction to my life in Māori art. The other strength in my life is my uncle Mark Kopua, a tohunga in Tā Moko who actively guides and encourages me in the work that I do. Spending part of my early childhood alongside him steadied and grounded me well for what I do now and so it is through the encouragement and endless support of these crucial people that I have advanced in my first passion of Tā Moko.

After a few years of learning Tā Moko under the guidance of my uncle Mark, I was given, at the age of 15, the opportunity to spread my wings and take flight into the world of Tā Moko which came in the form of my first application on my own father's legs. I gradually did more and more Moko application, building my confidence and honing my skills.

I also undertook a brief stretch of instruction at Toihoukura Māori Design School. WIth the guidance of Derek Lardelli, another Tohunga Tā Moko, and Contemporary Māori Art Tutor Steven Gibbs, I took the opportunity to explore Contemporary Multi-Media Arts. However my passion toward Tā Moko played a big part in me moving on and focussing entirely on Nga mahi o Rarohenga, Tā Moko.

I feel fortunate that my career has been endorsed in the fact that I have worked alongside many well established and highly regarded Tā Moko artists that includes my T.A.M.A brothers in Australia, uncles Mark Kopua and Derek Lardelli, Turumakina Duleyz, Arapeta Kaiwai, Patrick Takoko, Richard Francis, Henriata Nicholas, Rangi and Julie Kipa, Haki Williams, Jason Porter and Russel Wilson. These are my mentors and peers.

My aspirations for Tā Moko includes the establisment of this website. This website primarily allows those wanting to wear the symbols of their ancestors, access to Moko-Ira services. Access to those symbols. Access to an experience that is culturally encriching for both Moko-Ira and the recipient. Sharing the cultural enrichment that Tā Moko gives is the motivation for Moko-Ira giving you, your Moko.