In Māori culture, turtles are often associated with guardianship, wisdom, and longevity.
When I got my tāmoko last year, asking the artist I wanted something to represent the relationship with my Koro and me, he did just that and included a small turtle in the design. As I am still learning my culture, I wasn’t aware of their importance.
Turtles congregate only in certain stages of their life. They are solitary creatures spending their time swimming and foraging for food, a little like me.
