A law change is desperately needed to stop non-Māori artists using Māori faces and traditional facial tattoos in their work.
That's the view of a specialist in Indigenous cultural property, Aroha Mead.
The issue has come to light again after broadcaster Oriini Kaipara - who has a moko kauae - posted online that a portrait of her face was being sold without her permission.
There has also been outrage at a monkey statue with a mataora, or full-faced moko, wearing a korowai, created in celebration of Chinese New Year by former children's television host Erin Simpson.
Samantha Payne, who painted the portrait of Oriini Kaipara, said in a statement to RNZ, that she apologised for any offence and hurt caused by her paintings, and accepts it was unethical and inexusable to not ask any of women she depicted for their permission first. The piece is no longer online.
And in a statement, Erin Simpson who made the monkey statue, apologised for any offence that had arisen from her artwork and said she would be more culturally conscious with her future designs.
