Tattoo you: Nanaia Mahuta's ink is a family affair

Nanaia Mahuta shows off her back ink.

Politician Nanaia Mahuta carries a great deal of expectation on her shoulders - and her back as well as her feet.

The 44-year-old Labour MP is fiercely proud of her Maori heritage and her family roots in New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

She has links to the Waikato Maniapoto region - on her father's side - and hails from Ngapuhi on her mother's side.

As a tribute to her family, she has a large ta moko design inked on her back, depicting her whakapapa. Interwoven into those patterns are Cook Island-inspired drawings, paying tribute to the family's roots there.

She also had ta moko drawn on to her chest - which she did not want photographed - after the death of her father, respected Maori leader and politician Sir Robert Mahuta, almost 14 years ago.

"It was just something that I did because I was very close to my father," she said.

"Back in the old days, as a sign of grief, women used to scar their chest. So it's done to depict kind of the scraping."

Ms Mahuta also has a special tribute to her late aunt: Maori Queen Te Atairangikaahu.

"When my aunt passed, I got her symbol - the kaahu [hawk] - done on my shoulders. So they depict the wings of a kaahu.

"Only if I'm wearing a sleeveless shirt you'll see part of the wings."

Her latest ink, like her other tattoos, is again linked to a family story and this time includes her two children: 5-year-old son Waiwaia Nukutawhiti and 2-year-old daughter Niua-Cybele.

Ms Mahuta has two taniwha drawn on her feet; which represent each of her tamariki - whose names both derive from taniwha.

"My daughter's name comes from the Hokianga. The taniwha depicts the Hokianga Harbour, which is where the name comes from."

Her son's name comes from the taniwha connected to the Waipa and Waikato Rivers.

Asked why she had them tattooed on her feet, her answer comes quickly.

"I put them on my feet to keep me grounded - as they do.

"And when I put my feet together, they make a fin. The two designs connect as one."

She acknowledged that many people had no idea she had tattoos - and she liked it that way. They are not for show.

"It all tells a story and it's all relevant to my life ... it's always been a result of a story of what I want, the story of where I come from, my parents and my whanau. And that's pretty special."