Photo: Supplied / Meraz Parker-Potoi
It's believed the traditional Samoan tatau, or tattoos, have been around for more than 3000 years and survived attempts to ban it.
Legend has it the tatau was gifted to Samoa from goddesses, Taema and Tilafaiga, who taught the Samoan people the practice, entrusting the tatau would live on for centuries.
To this day the history of the Samoan tatau fascinates people.
But there were also failed attempts by early missionaries to have it prohibited as they came to accept that the tatau was a rite of passage.
While it is a breathtaking work of art, the tatau is a symbol of identity, heritage and service.
Filmed in December 2022, the newly-released RNZ documentary, Tautua: Inked In Service follows Samoan journalist Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei's journey on getting his tatau or pe'a.
The documentary also features interviews with Faivaeselopepe's family members and Samoan community leaders who share what role the tatau plays in the modern world, particularly for Samoans who live overseas.
Faivaeselopepe said he poured a lot of heart into his story because he knew how deeply cherished the tatau is in Samoan culture.
"With the tatau being such a sacred part of Samoan culture, there were things that the tufuga (tatooist) was telling us that we couldn't record and there were places that we couldn't record from," he said.
"So it was trying to figure out how to be able to authentically tell the story in a way that is still respectful to the culture and the traditions - not overstepping the boundaries because that's the last thing you want to do as a Pacific Islander, to step where you're not meant to step.
"A lot of Samoans have watched countless tatau journey documentaries and videos on YouTube, but they [the documentaries] tend to all look the same."
RNZ social media journalist Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei, photographed in the RNZ office. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
According to the 2018 New Zealand census, there are more than 180,000 Samoans living in the country. Faivaeselopepe said it was important to him to acknowledge the diaspora, especially those who have the pe'a or malu (female version of the tatau).
"What I wanted for the story was to step into a space that hasn't been explored before, that's why I named the documentary Tautua instead of Tatau," he said.
"Talking about what 'service' looks like to New Zealand Samoans or to Samoans who live outside of Samoa, or any Pacific Islander who lives outside their homelands. How do we in the 21st century connect the world that we live in now to the culture and the traditions of our ancestors?"
More than just the inking
Choosing to undergo the tatau is a decision that is not taken lightly as confirmed by Faivaeselopepe. There are cultural obligations and expectations once the person is bestowed with the tatau.
When asked if a person should be knowledgeable on all Samoan customs and fluent in the language in order to receive the tatau, Faivaeselopepe said it all comes down to the person's intentions.
"There was a discussion that I saw recently around the saying 'ta muamua lou gutu, ona ta laia lau pe'a' - 'tattoo your mouth first before you tattoo your body', and today we understand it as you have to learn how to speak Samoan. But then the saying came from before we moved outside the country, what other language did we speak? We spoke Samoan.
"So what would they mean in saying that when everyone at that time spoke Samoan, it wasn't about the words that came out of your mouth. It's more about the intentions behind the words that come out of your mouth.
"It's about the way you carry yourself as a Samoan; it's about how you treat others as a Samoan. It's not so much about being able to talk - while language is important, as it connects you better to your culture, it connects you better to your roots, I don't feel like it's a pre-requisite to receive the tatau."
Faivaeselopepe said being able to speak Samoan fluently outside of the home country is a privilege. He recalled not being able to speak Samoan until later on when he spent a number of years in Samoa attending secondary school and university.
"As long as someone is actively learning or making an effort to learn their mother tongue, that's more than enough; that shows where their heart is," he said.
"You don't have to be fully knowledgeable but as someone who wears the tatau, I guess the only other thing I want to say to people who think about receiving it, is just make sure your heart's in the right place; as long as it's love for your family, love for your culture, that's more than enough."
TAHI presenter So'omalo Iteni Schwalger, RNZ Pacific Waves presenter Susana Suisuiki, and RNZ Social Media Journalist Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei showcase their tatau Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
