By 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and New Zealand became a British colony, the export trade in mokomokai had virtually ended, along with a decline in the use of moko in Māori society, although occasional small-scale trade continued for several years.
Efter 1840, när Waitangifördraget hade undertecknats och Nya Zeeland blivit en brittisk koloni samtidigt som bruket av moko i maorisamhället minskat, upphörde nästan exporten av mokomokai, även om viss småskalig handel fortsatte under flera år..