Bay of Plenty residents have the chance to see a piece of New Zealand history with the opening of Kuia Mau Moko exhibition.

The exhibition is of 29 black and white photographs of Maori kuia (eldery woman) who wore moko kauae, the tradition of incising and imbedding pigment into the skin on the chin of Maori women.

One of the 29 black and white photos on display. Photo: Facebook

Photographs taken in the late 60s and early 70s to feature in historian Michael King's book Moko – Maori Tattooing in the 20^th Century are currently on display at Rotorua Museum.

The photos were taken at a time when it was believed the sun had set on the ancient tradition, says Te Papa photography curator Athol McCredie.

'King and Friedlander's journey into heartland Aotearoa uncovered a generation of kuia who were the last in an unbroken tradition to receive moko kauae in the 1920s,” says Athol.

'The book has continued to inspire researchers of ta moko, practitioners and the revival of the moko kauae tradition over the last 20 years.

'The photographs tell a story of resilience, loss and sorrow for a way of life that was fast slipping away. Of course at the time, none of them realised that within two decades moko kauae would begin a quiet revival, eventually seeing hundreds of Maori women proudly bearing the moko of their ancestors and reconnecting the past with the future once again.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum will host a series of ta moko events early in the New Year.

On January 7 and 8, 2016, Te Arawa ta moko artist Richard Francis will demonstrate the art of ta moko.

On Sunday, January 10, he will also give a talk on the history of ta moko, a week later, four Maori kuia will talk about the meanings behind their own ta moko on January 17.

Kuia Mau Moko is developed and toured by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The exhibition is on display at Rotorua Museum until January 17.

Entry is included in Rotorua Museum's admission price, which is free for Rotorua residents with relevant ID. For further information please contact Rotorua Museum, phone 07 350 1814 or email rotorua.museum@rotorualc.nz