Looking for an Auckland tattoo studio

If you’re searching for an Auckland tattoo studio, then you’ve found Sunset. For classic, Pacifica and custom tattooing, Sunset Tattoo provides a professional and friendly setting for you to get your next tattoo.

History and Location

In December 2014, after ten years of studying tattoo art around the world and in New Zealand's best tattoo studios, Tom McMillan opened his own Art studio together with his wife, well known NZ artist, Misery. The studio began as a private space for the pair to make art and tattoos, and has now grown into a busy art studio and tattoo shop. A year later their humble Auckland tattoo studio is now busier than ever. We pride ourselves on creating beautiful and bold tattoos to a professional standard and continue to share a huge passion for the craft of tattooing. We tattoo classic traditional pieces as well as custom work and are happy to tattoo flash straight off the wall too. We are also set up to take walk-in's most days.

The Team

Tom McMillan has been tattooing for over 10 years and focuses on specializing in his own unique take on western traditional and Japanese tattoo styles. Tom switches easily between large-scale full body tattoos to palm size one-shot tattoos, and is always on the lookout for new, original design challenges.

Tristan Marler is of Te Rarawa descent, from the Hokianga in the far north. In 2014 he graduated from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts institute with a diploma in Whakairo Rakau (traditional wood carving). Tristan is now tattooing full time, and specializes in Ta Moko, Blackwork, pattern work, geometric and dot-work tattoo styles.

Fabian Bidart hails from Chile, and has been tattooing in Auckland City since 2007. He specialises in western traditional tattooing.

Make a booking

If you would like to request a booking or consultation you can send us an email, call us, or pop into the studio. If you have reference photos to show us please be sure to attach them to your email or print them off if you are coming into the studio. Please note that some of our tattoo artists are booked up for weeks so it pays to book in advance if you have a specific date in mind that you want to be tattooed on. As for consultations, they usually take around 10-20 minutes and are free of charge.

So if you're interested in getting a tattoo, whether it's your 1st or 50th, there's an Auckland tattoo studio that knows exactly what you want. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions about Tattoos

If you’re new to the world of tattoos, then you might have a few questions. It can be a daunting experience going to your first tattoo, and that’s why we’ve put together this short list of the most common questions asked when it comes to tattoos and tattoo designs.

Does it hurt?
This is easily the most common question for those thinking of getting a tattoo. The short answer is... probably. Although a lot of that depends on you and your attitude. Pain is subjective, and some people have a higher threshold than others. If you’re ready for some serious ink, then the pain itself will be part of the experience, and how you feel about it will determine how painful it is. 

What design should I get?
Well that’s up to you! Many people get tattoos for many reasons, each one personal and meaningful to them. If you know you want a tattoo design, but are not sure what to get, pop into the studio and have a chat with us. We can help point you in the right direction and at least give you some ideas to think about.  

How long will it take?
Again, this is obviously dependent on individual tattoos. The size, detail and shading of the tattoo will all factor into how long the job will take. We can give you an estimate once you’ve picked a tattoo design. 

What if I don’t like it?
Well, it’s not the end of the world, so don’t panic. If you end up with a tattoo design you’re not happy with, then you have a few options. There’s always the possibility that you can cover it up with a design you do like, you can add to it, or as a last resort, you can have tattoo laser removal. The trick here is to make sure you’re happy with the design in the first place!

How much does it cost?
All tattoos are different, and much like the time it takes to complete, the price is largely determined on the design. The size, colour and detail of the design all play a factor in the final price of tattoos. If you have a design in mind, come see us for a quote.

How long does it take to heal?
Tattoos can take 1-2 weeks to heal. You will receive aftercare products and directions on how to best care for your tattoo from us. We also recommend you keep new tattoos out of direct sunlight for about six weeks.

Always do your research when it comes to tattoo designs

Before getting a tattoo it is essential that you spend some time looking at tattoo ideas, designs and fonts. This week we talk about how to source good tattoo ideas.

The last thing you want on (or rather under!) your skin is a design that you might regret in a few years. So here’s our first advice on tattoo ideas: find something unique. Don’t copy anyone else’s tattoo. The Internet is a good starting point to start looking for tattoo ideas. You can use Google images as a tool for inspiration.

Our tattoo studio in Auckland has folders with tattoo ideas and designs to flick through. Always keep in mind that these are just ideas. Ultimately, you should ask your tattoo artist to come up with a unique design for you. This might take a few days, but it is worth the wait. For a true tattoo artist (and for you!), nothing will be more satisfying than juggling with ideas. So really the best thing you can do is speak to a tattoo artist directly.

If you are looking for inspiration, why not drop in at Sunset tattoo in Auckland? Our tattoo artists Tom, Fabian and Tristan will be happy to discuss your tattoo ideas with you. They can design a tattoo from scratch and give you honest advice.

Simply give us a call, or drop by our studio in Ponsonby. We’re always happy to help with any questions you may have.

The statistics on tattoos in New Zealand

New Zealand has a large tattoo culture, more so the the rest of the developed world, with nearly one in five adult Kiwis sporting some form of ink. This isn't really surprising, but what is, is the fact that women here are more likely to get a tattoo than the men!

A UMR Research survey of people aged 18 years and over indicated 19 percent of adults have been tattooed, with the rate rising to 36 percent among the adults younger than 30.

Overall, 22 percent of women have been tattooed, compared with 17 percent of men.

And there was an even bigger split on ethnic lines: almost half (47 percent) of Maori and Pacific Islanders had been tattooed but only 15 percent of other ethnicities.

"Polynesians gave the English language the word tattoo which is derived from the Samoan word tatau, so it should be no surprise that Pacific Islanders and Maori were also far more likely to have had tattoos than others," said a director of the research company, Tim Grafton.

Almost one third (32 percent) of parents with dependent children had a tattoo compared to 13 percent of the rest of the adult population.

Few had any regrets, with 85 percent of people with a tattoo saying they did not regret it. 

If you're interested in getting a tattoo, then come see the professionals. Here at Sunset Tattoo, we have a clean, relaxed studio that adheres to the very highest in Health & Safety. Our artists are all highly experienced and each specialise in different tattoo designs.

Give us a call today, or book in for an appointment.

Looking for a Maori tattoo design? Come see us.

If you’re interested in getting a Maori tattoo design, then you should come see Tristan at Sunset Tattoo.

Tristan is of Te Rarawa descent, from the Hokianga in the far north. He graduated from the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts institute in 2014 with a diploma in Whakairo Rakau (traditional wood carving). Not long before Tristan graduated, he approached Tom about learning the craft of tattooing and bringing his knowledge of carving and Maori art over to the medium. Tristan is now tattooing full time with Sunset, and specializes in Ta Moko, Blackwork, pattern work, geometric and dot-work tattoo styles.

When researching your Maori tattoo design, it’s a good idea to come talk to Tristan first. A little knowledge about Maori culture and Maori tattoo design will help you make an informed choice about what it is you want. The art of tattooing is a rich and historic part of Maori culture, and is therefore deserving of respect. In Cultural terms, each Maori tattoo design had a deeper meaning, represented a milestone, or told its own story.

The original tattooing method consisted of cutting into the skin, rather than inking the top layers. This method has been documented as one of the oldest in the world, going back generations. Today it isn’t quite as painful or dangerous, and people don’t need to be heading off to war in order to get one. Maori tattoo design are more popular than ever, with more and more complex patterns and designs adorning everyone from housewives to CEOs.

So if you’re interested in a Maori tattoo design, come and see us at Sunset Tattoo. Book an appointment with Tristan, even if it’s just for a chat about your options. Our studio is relaxed, cosy and clean; everything you want in a tattoo studio.