Health & Safety is paramount here at Sunset Tattoo

Hygiene is paramount when getting a tattoo, and we here at Sunset take our responsibility very seriously. When selecting an Auckland tattoo studio you should make sure that they follow the strict Health & Safety guidelines of the Auckland council.

Sunset Tattoo is the Auckland tattoo studio you can trust. Coming to us for a tattoo is not only an enjoyable and stress-free experience, but also a safe one. We practice the highest level of hygiene and meticulously adhere to the Auckland council Health & Safety guidelines. Our studio itself is spotless, never mind our needles!

How do we make our Auckland tattoo studio safe and sterile?

We always keep our tattoo accessories in the most sterile condition. Before we start working on your tattoo, our tattoo artist will disinfect and shave the area where you want your tattoo. We do this with disposable razors that we only use once. We will also show you the sealed tattoo needle and open the pouch in front of you. After we’re finished with your tattoo, we’ll throw the needle out. Each needle is only used once, and you can see this for yourself, putting your mind at rest.

It is likely that your skin will bleed a little when getting a tattoo. That’s why all our tattoo artists are wearing gloves throughout the entire tattooing process. It’s safer for you and for them. You could walk into a hospital and not notice the difference. That’s how clean and hygienic our Auckland tattoo studio is!

For a safe, and friendly tattoo experience, visit our Auckland tattoo studio today, or contact us via phone: +64 (9) 376-3423 or drop us an email on: info@sunsettattoo.co.nz

Facebook removes Maori tattoo for “breaching standards”

When do tattoos cross the line from art to indecent? And how do you draw the line when it comes to cultural identity? Well, apparently Facebook knows the answer to all these questions. They recently removed a photo of a traditional Maori body tattoo (a pūhoro) by Auckland tattooist Hirini Katene.

Facebook claimed it breached their community standards policy, but Hirini has been left confused by the decision. "I don't know why the video was removed - when everybody else looks at it, it's a piece of art," he says.

A pūhoro is a tattoo on a thigh, and this is where the problems seem to have come from. The photo shows... wait for it… someone’s tattoo’d arse! Of course in this day and age of mass shooting, suicide bombs and constant warfare filling people’s newsfeeds, someone’s bum is clearly crossing the line.

Hirini wasn't sure if someone had made a complaint or if Facebook's own monitors had removed the photo, but says he "was pretty let down." He told One News some people chose to see the nudity rather than the artwork the video was intended to showcase, and that there was nothing sexual about it.

Like genuine Maori tattoos, the patterns on the Pūhoro are linked back to where he's from, his whakapapa, his genealogy, all his ancestors, they're all put into that piece. "I've just done this amazing piece and that's what I'm trying to show off, nothing else.”

When researching your Maori tattoo design, it’s a good idea to come to Sunset and 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.

Contact us today for more information.

A brief history of Japanese tattoos

Did you know that in some Japanese bath houses, anyone with a tattoo is refused entry? Seems a bit harsh, even for a conservative country like Japan, but the reason goes back hundreds of years…

Irezumi is the name given to tattooing in Japan, and refers to many different forms of traditional Japanese tattoos, or modern forms inspired or derived from these. Just to confuse things, the word can be written AND spoken in several different ways, and also translate into several different words, although the most common is literally “insert ink”.

Japanese tattoos date back thousands of years, but their meaning and role in society fluctuates with different time periods. It was around the Kofun period (300-600 AD) that tattoos began to take on negative associations. Criminals were tattooed as a form of punishment, so others would know they had committed a crime.

Tattoo fads came and went over the next thousand years, but the stigma lingered, and at the beginning of the Meiji period, tattoos were outlawed altogether. Of course, when you outlaw anything, you only drive it underground, so tattoos were now officially the cool thing to have, and as Japan opened up to the West, many came to seek the skills of traditional Japanese Tattoo Artists.

The connotations with criminality still persisted, with many associating tattoos with the Yakuza, Japan’s infamous mafia. This gave tattoos in Japan a stigma which is still seen today in the bath houses and other Japanese businesses. Japanese tattoos were legalised again after the war, but even today, a tattoo studio is hard to find. It is estimated there are around 300 tattoo artists in Japan; an incredibly small percentage considering its 127 million population.

If you’re interested in Japanese tattoos, then come see Tom at Sunset Studios. He's spent years studying Japanese tattoos and is always up for a chat about any design ideas you have

Come to Sunset for a Maori Tattoo

New Zealand is a natural wonderland. From the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of the South Island, up to the rolling hills and sub-tropical rainforests of the North Island, there are very few, if any countries which can match us for our diverse landscape. It's no wonder that when people visit Aotearoa, they often stay, or at the very least, bring a piece back in their hearts.

No place like it

It's no surprise then that we attract millions of tourists each year: over three million last year alone. Bearing in mind that New Zealand only has a population of 4.5 million, that's two thirds of the country! From adventure seekers to Lord of the Rings enthusiasts, to thousands of globe-trotting backpackers, New Zealand lives long in the memory of many, many people.

Many of these tourists want something to remember their amazing trip by, and they need something more sentimental than a stuffed Kiwi. That's where Sunset Tattoo come in. A Maori tattoo is the perfect memento of New Zealand. It's a unique part of our culture, signifies a special time in your life, and of course, looks fucking awesome. 

Call us for a Maori Tattoo

Tristan is our resident artist who specialises in Maori tattoos and Pacifica designs. Being Maori himself, and studying at the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, he understands the meaning, complexity and history behind genuine Maori tattoos. If you're interested in an authentic Maori tattoo, then this is the man to talk to.

If you would like to request a booking or consultation you can send us an email, call us, or pop 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. For Maori tattoo design, there's simply no one better to come to.

Tattoos in New Zealand

The styles and methods of tattooing in 21st century New Zealand are extremely diverse. From traditional Maori and Pacifica styles, through to modern Anime, the style is varied, but tattooing first began in New Zealand with Ta Moko.

The early days

It’s impossible to establish when Ta Moko started as there are no written records pre-colonisation, as there was no formal Maori written language. Instead, historians have had to rely on archaeologists and the accounts of the first European settlers. Excavated sites have found tattooing tools dating back to the very earliest settlers, with some of the tools the same as the ones used in Samoa. Although the patterns and designs vary throughout the Pacific when it comes to tattoos, the technique of rhythmically tapping a bone chisel, lashed to a small wooden shaft remains the same.

Some of the earliest accounts of tattooing in New Zealand were by Sydney Parkinson. Parkinson was Captain James Cook’s artist on board the Endeavour, when it landed in Poverty Bay in 1769. He sketched and painted local Maori displaying their Moko, and described in detail the different styles and patterns he witnessed.

The Explorers noticed that Maori women were not as extensively tattooed as the men. Their upper lips were outlined, usually in dark blue, and their nostrils were also very finely incised. The chin moko was always the most popular, and continued to be practiced even into the 1970s.

Telling a story

Ta Moko facial tattoos aren’t just for decoration, they also tell a story. A person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally (but not always, depending on the tribe) the father's side, while the right hand side indicates the mother's ancestry. If one side of a person's ancestry was not of rank, that side of the face would have no Moko design. Likewise if, in the centre forehead area there is no Moko design, this means the wearer either has no rank, or has not inherited rank.

If you're interested in a tattoo, be it Maori or a Pokemon tattoo, then give Sunset Tattoo a call today. Our friendly and helpful staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have..