The National Tattoo Museum in Wellington, a showcase of traditional and contemporary tattooing, was the brainchild of tattooist Steve Maddock. A self-taught tattooist, Steve opened the museum in 2001, and it doubles as his tattoo studio.
The museum is full of information about this ancient art, and on display are many different and unique styles of tattoos from throughout the world.
The museum is the first of its kind in the South Pacific.
"I was quite surprised when I found out that there wasn't one [tattoo museum] in the whole South Pacific, and to me it's got such a rich history that's so important to everyone involved in it," Steve said.
Origins of Ta Moko
The origins of tā moko lie in the ancient story of Niwareka and her husband Mataora. They lived at a time when the art of chiselling the skin was not known and designs were painted on the body. One day, Mataora mistreated Niwareka who fled to her father's people in Rarohenga, the underworld. Mataora pursued his wife, wanting to persuade her to return. But when he reached Rarohenga, the designs painted on his face were smeared with sweat from his exertions. Seeing his appearance, his wife's people laughed at him - their faces were marked with permanent incisions.
Ashamed, Mataora begged his wife's forgiveness and asked his father-in-law to teach him the art of tā moko. Niwareka eventually forgave her husband and returned with him to the world above, taking with her the art of tāniko, a delicate and intricate form of weaving. Mataora brought with him the knowledge of moko. In that way, knowledge of these arts entered the world.
SOURCE: Te Papa website
He said he works with other museums around the world compiling information about the unique history of this art form.
"Every country and culture has a tattoo history and only about twenty percent of them are very well recorded. We're finding out new things every day," he said.
"They're digging people up and finding tattoos on them that goes back thousands of years so it's hard to know when it started, or even how it started," Steve said.
Tattoos dating back to 4000 years BC are still being discovered.
New Zealand's indigenous Maori people have their own unique tattoo form known as 'Ta Moko'. The method for moko from the conventional tattoos in that the skin is carved by chisels rather than punctured. This leaves the skin with grooves, rather than a smooth surface.
A major role of the Tattoo Museum in Wellington is to share and protect the heritage of Ta Moko. Ta moko almost disappeared by the early twentieth century, but the last 20 years has seen a resurgence with more Maori choosing to have a moko carved on their bodies.
Traditionally the moko signified status among the Maori and their whakapapa, or family lineage, was often was often etched in their tattoos.
The 'Blue Room' in the museum displays a range of these impressive body carvings as well as some of the tools that was used.
Today the lure of the moko has spread overseas. British pop star Robbie Williams has a kirituhi (only a true Maori descendant's tattoo can be called a moko), on his upper arm and Calvin Klein has used a face moko-design in a sunglasses advertising campaign. Steve said the popularity of the moko is really increasing around the world, with moko artists in Europe and the States.
"Especially with the media and internet and with the movies 'Once Were Warriors', etc."
Although Steve has been tattooing for years after learning how to make his own tattoo machine, he does not specialise in moko's. Today, he said, people come to him because they know they will get something personal and something that fits them 100 percent. Even David Beckham had an appointment with him when he was in Wellington for a soccer game last year. Beckham wanted a Maori-inspired tattoo but rough play on the field the day before ended with a broken rib so he had to cancel it.
Wilko Onken, a student from Germany, was intrigued by Wellington's Tattoo Museum and the art of moko.
"I think the moko is a very special and magnificent kind of tattoo and it has great meaning"
"Before coming here I thought of returning home with another tattoo and I read and saw a lot about the Maori tattoos and I was very fascinated when I saw it for the first time."
The National Tattoo Museum can be found at 31 Wigan Street, Wellington and costs $5 to enter.
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