My great-grandmother wore a ta moko on her chin and lips. All I saw was a painting of her that was hidden in the hot water cupboard wrapped in a blanket overnight that my uncle had brought up on his way north. I have been intrigued ever since and now actively seek out woman with ta moko to capture them for their families to have in later years. Ta moko is earned, it is not a given and should have ties back to your family genealogy ( whakapapa).