MUSEUM

187 Vivian Street
Wellington
New Zealand

Phone: (04) 385-2185
Fax: (04) 385-2181

Email: mokomuseum@mail.com

Open 7 Days:

Sunday - Thursday
12:00pm - 5:30pm

Late Night Friday & Saturday
12:00pm - 8:00pm

Admission Fees:

FREE

Established as a Trust in the year 2000, the NTM (National Tattoo Museum) is a first for the South Pacific Region. Our goal is to provide a forum to ensure the rich history of the 'Tattoo' or 'Ta Moko', is both shared and protected.

This is a totally unique venture that has never been created before in the South Pacific, therefore the implications of such a venture are huge. Taking into civilization throughout the South Pacific and the world. The Museum is a basis for global unity for tattooed and non-tattooed people alike and we make every effort to ensure that every culture is treated with the same utmost respect. Our vision is to document and display individual stories as accurately and honestly as possible, while continuing to evolve with the Art Of Tattoo.

The breadth of cultural and sociological history tattoo encompasses is huge, the art form dating back to C4,000 B.C. Including both traditional and contemporary, tattoo practices; Ta Moko - it's spiritual, political and symbolic dimensions, and lifestyle through tattoo, seafaring tattoo - travel visas of the 18th century throughout the Pacific, Asia and wider, and more recently, fashionable body adornment practices.
Furthermore, Traditional Maori Tattoo practice is one of the icons by which this country is best known overseas, and ranks as one of the most sophisticated, highly developed tattoo traditions anywhere in the world.

In the last few years, tattoo has shifted from being regarded as insignia of marginalised social groups to being accepted by far wider section of the population.
The Museum had it's official launch on 23rd November, 2001. This was to coincide with an International Tattoo Convention that was being hosted in New Zealand, which also included a convention in Samoa and meant a large number of International Visitors coming to New Zealand specifically for this event.

We have opened the South Pacific's only Tattoo Museum in 2001, it is a unique venture, which will celebrate its tenth birthday in November 2010. The Museum displays a variety of the different styles of tattoos from throughout the world and their histories, some dating back to 4000BC. The Museum also hosts a comprehensive display of Moko alongside tattoo artist directories and visual displays. A great place to get ideas for your tattoo.

We have produced Year Planers for the years 04' 05' 06' 07' '08 '09 '10 all featuring the oil paintings by Ymre Molnar, Steve Maddock, Alan Musson, and Dean Baker which are currently exhibiting in the Tattoo Museum. The planners have dates and details of tattooists, tattoo merchandisers and other businesses, as well as great photos of body art from throughout the world. These are currently free with every adult entry into the museum.

Stamps of Moko have been produced by the National Tattoo Museum of New Zealand (NTM). They consist of sets of $1.50(set of 4) but the $0.45cent(set of 10) are all sold out. There is also different types of NTM postcards at $2-00 and Badges are $3-00.

Prints of Moko were also available at the museum for $49.95. The prints are limited edition, signed and numbered by the artist, Ymre Molnar. Both sold out fast. We are looking at future series, to be first to know when we make a NEW set, please email us: mokomuseum@mail.com