Toihoukura student Henare Brooking practicing Tā Moko.

Tā moko is all Toihoukura student Henare Brooking has ever known in the world of art.

The 28-year-old graduated with a diploma of contemporary Māori art in 2004-2005, and is now working on his degree after moving back from Wellington.

He grew up with celebrated tā moko artist Mark Kopua, who has continued to teach and mentor him throughout. For more than 20 years, Kopua has been a stalwart of the revitalisation of the tā moko art form, and is a close associate of Toihoukura.

Brooking has been practising tä moko for 13 years now.

“While it is traditional, you have to keep moving and changing with the times so it continues to develop. It is everlasting and has really bounced back in recent years.”

Some of that is thanks to celebrities having pieces more visible.“Tā moko is a very special art form to me and something I hold close to my heart,” said Brooking.

“I am loving being back at Toihoukura,” he says. “It has a freedom with art that you don’t find elsewhere… there are no boundaries. It is the perfect place to learn – we have the best lecturers, awesome guest artists who come in and lecture and everything else we need.”

He is hoping to continue on to study his masters.

“That would be the ultimate goal.”

But for now he is happy to be home with his wife Michaela and children Hinekahukura and Maia.

“We wanted our kids to grow up here – I grew up in Tolaga Bay, and want them to enjoy a similar childhood.”