EP.06 - Talking with Gordon Toi

In this intimate episode, I sit down with master carver and renowned Tā Moko artist Gordon Toi, recorded at his private studio and home in Mapua, in the South Island of Aotearoa. Together, we explore the ancestral origins, symbolism, and spiritual power of traditional Māori tattooing.

Gordon shares deep insights into the meaning held within the lines of Tā Moko—how they map the journey of one’s life, lineage, and belonging. As one of the most respected living practitioners of Pūhoro, he speaks to its sacred role as a rite of passage and a continual thread of connection to the ancestors.

We also touch on the mysterious carved texture of facial moko found on the ancestors—markings so precise and detailed that they hint at an ancient technology or knowledge still not fully understood today. Gordon offers reflections on the sacred responsibility of carrying this art forward, and the vital role Tā Moko plays in cultural healing, identity, and the revival of indigenous wisdom.

This is a powerful and grounding conversation with one of the great holders of Māori tattoo tradition—a must-listen for anyone called to the deeper currents beneath the skin.

Gordon Toi:https://www.instagram.com/gtoinative/

Contact Shane... [e-mail]

Website: ancestortattoo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanetattooer/

Title music: Ngā Tai Tawhito, Kiki Pounamu https://smarturl.it/kikipounamu