MUSEUM
187 Vivian Street
Wellington
New Zealand
Phone: (04) 385-2185
Email: mokomuseum@mail.com
Open 7 Days:
Sunday - Thursday
12:00pm - 5:30pm
Late Night Friday & Saturday
12:00pm - 8:00pm
Admission Free Proudly Sponsored by Underground Arts
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. Now having 1/2 dozen TV programs with tattoo themes eg LA Ink, Miami Ink etc.
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 eleventh birthday in November 2011. 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 and '11. The planners have dates of Tattoo Shows and details of tattooists, tattoo merchandisers and other businesses, as well as great photos of body art. These are currently free when you visit the musuem.
Prints of Moko are also available at the museum for $49.95. The prints are limited edition by the artist Ymre Molnar.
