Christine Harvey is a New Zealand tÃÂ moko (MÃÂori tattoo) artist and teacher.
Harvey was born in Christchurch. She has both Moriori and MÃÂori heritage, and belongs to the MÃÂori iwi (tribes) of NgÃÂti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Te ÃÂtiawa ki Te Tauihu, NgÃÂti Toa Rangatira, and KÃÂti MÃÂmoe.
Harvey began her career in the mid-1990s; initially she trained as a painter, but became interested in tÃÂ moko as a part of her MÃÂori heritage. She was mentored by MÃÂori artist Riki Manuel. The start of her career coincided with a revival of interest in tÃÂ moko as an art form and particularly a revival of moko kauae, chin tattoos worn by women. New Zealand news website Stuff has described her as being at the "forefront" of the revival of tÃÂ moko.
She has designed and inked traditional tÃÂ moko all over New Zealand, and many customers request her work because she is one of few women who practice the art. She uses modern tools as well as traditional uhi (chisels) carved from bone. She was the artist for Ariana Tikao's moko kauae, and Tikao wrote a book about the experience (together with photographs by Matt Calman and MÃÂori language text by Ross Calman) called Mokorua (published by Auckland University Press in 2022).
Harvey also has some experience in whakairo (traditional MÃÂori carving); in 2021 she was one of eight female MÃÂori artists whose traditional carvings were featured in an online and in-person exhibition held by Toi MÃÂori Aotearoa.
Harvey was also working as an art teacher at Te Kura Whakapà «mau Te Reo Tà «turu ki Waitaha school in Christchurch. She homeschooled her five children, and one of her daughters is also a tàmoko artist.