Show Notes
What happens when you begin to understand where you come from?
In this episode of The Martin Show, I sit down with Tā moko artist Tristan Marler for a conversation about whakapapa (genealogy), self-worth, and how he found a deeper connection to te ao Māori through his art.
We talk about Tristan’s own journey of reconnecting with te ao Māori, how that connection has enriched his life, and why he chose to deepen his understanding of te reo Māori.
We also explore a question that sits at the heart of the conversation:
Why do Māori undervalue themselves?
Why can we struggle to recognise our own worth? Where does that come from? And what happens when we begin to understand the value of who we are, where we come from, and what has been passed down to us?
We also get into tā moko — whether we need to “earn” the right to receive moko, what it represents, and the responsibility that can come with carrying something connected to your whakapapa.
And finally, we ask a bigger question:
What do young Māori men need most today?
This isn’t a conversation about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions, reconnecting with where we come from, and remembering our worth.
Know your worth. Know where you come from. MANA.
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