Oriini Kaipara, a member of the Māori tribe in New Zealand, made history by becoming the first person to anchor a primetime news broadcast with a traditional lower chin tattoo called a moko kauae. The tattoo symbolizes a woman's rite of passage from girl to adult.
The 37-year-old anchored the evening news on Monday for Newshub Live as a substitute for the show's hosts, The Indian Express reports.
Her presence during the news program created shockwaves as pictures of the journalist went viral, winning the approval of many people.
"I'm very much aware that I'm the first [with moko kauae] to anchor a six o'clock primetime news bulletin. That is always at the back of my mind, that every step I make is like breaking through a glass ceiling. It's breaking new ground for us as Māori, but also for people of color. Whether you've got a moko kauae or not," Kaipara said.
In 2017, Kaipara proudly announced that her DNA test revealed she was 100% Māori and decided to get the moko kauae tattoo, highlighting her family's heritage and social status.
"In New Zealand, many believed there are no full-blood Māori left. It's often been used by critics of Māori who seek equal rights and sovereignty. My results, at least, show there is one full-blooded Māori, contrary to that belief. I believe there are more full-blooded Māori. They just haven't done a DNA test. For me, being Māori is a way of life. I was born and bred in a Māori world where reo (language) and tikanga (traditions) were embedded in us," she said.
Kaipara later made headlines in Nov. 2019 when she anchored TVNZ's noon news program while sporting the tattoo. She also was a host on Mai FM, one of New Zealand's urban contemporary radio networks.
"I look forward to leading effective and positive change where Māori issues and interests are respectfully conveyed and relayed on our platforms — where our voices and stories are told fairly, accurately, and objectively. I do not take this challenge lightly and trust that the mana of my people remains with me as I take on this new journey for all of us," she told NZ Herald.
Kaipara is a bilingual journalist and news broadcaster of Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa lineage. She speaks Te Reo, a prominent language spoken by Māori people.
