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The people of the 2015 NZ International Tattoo and Art Expo

26 February, 2015

 

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“Here’s something a bit different that NZV8 managed to get along to and see what the buzz was all about. We talk to the people of the NZ International Tattoo and Art Expo”

Like a swarm of bees who’ve lost their hive, the buzzing of tattoo machines never stopped all weekend at the Claudelands Event Centre. This was the place to be if you wanted to be a part of the NZ International Tattoo and Art Expo on February 21–22. Featuring burlesque dancers, the Miss Tattoo NZ competition, and a fashion show, tattoo artists from New Zealand, and from around the world, displayed their talents.  Many artists were so in demand that they had signs posted stating, “Sorry, booked all weekend.” Throughout the duration of the event, the exhibition hall was packed with tattooists, the tattooed, and those who appreciate body art.

David L’Huillier from Hamilton has a very impressive full-body tattoo.

He got his first tattoo at the age of 21, when he was in the army. Now aged 27 he works out a lot to keep in shape.

Wandering around the event it was easy to see the people who wanted to get into the industry and start up their own tattoo business. You could tell who they were as they were checking out what the Bohemian Tattoo Supplies team from Tauranga had on display. They had everything you’d need to start up your own business — ink, needles, guns, stencils — all you’d need to find yourself would be a willing client.

If you still weren’t too convinced to get some permanent ink, Usha’s Henna Art was as the show applying traditional Indian artwork, in the non-permanent variety, which is made from natural henna. The designs will last between one to four weeks depending on your skin type. Who knows, in that time you might feel convinced you want to keep it around forever.

Sarah Welsh was in New Zealand on a holiday, away from her home in Wales, and dropped in at the expo and added to her artwork.

She got her first tattoo at the age of 18, and now at 22 she can’t stop — her back is covered. Over in England last year, Sarah won Miss Tattoo. When asked why she didn’t enter the contest at the New Zealand expo she said, “I’m not getting up there in a swim suit”.

Nathan and Melissa from Conscious Stuff had a large selection of custom jewellery on display, comprising of earrings, tunnels, stretchers, bracelets, and necklaces, which had been handcrafted from buffalo horn and bone.

The MellyPop Doll House-hosted fashion show got the crowds gathered. Melissa Spiller, who owns the MellyPop Doll House back in Wellington even entered the show in her red and black corset. 

Following the competition was a burlesque show. All the participants appeared to be having a good time, which the audience fed off, adding to the fun atmosphere of the event. Daria Dangerous entered with her red feather boa as pictured above.

Trillion, the naughty teacher

Red Delicious with feathers

Andy from Taupou Tatau, which is based in wellington, spent most of the day on Saturday working on Emilie’s leg. She’d travelled all the way from San Francisco just for the show.

Little did Emilie know when she jumped on the plane to New Zealand that she would walk away with second place in the Miss Tattoo competition,

Sam from Monsta Truck Tattoo in Napier was kept incredibly busy all weekend as well.


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At this stage she was working on a leg of a person who had also made the trip up from Napier.

One tattooist, Ryugen, came all the way from Japan to do traditional Japanese tattooing. Ryugen has been carrying out the Irezumi style of tattoing for over 20 years. He doesn’t use a machine; instead, the tattooing is done with a very sharp blade on the end of a stick. The lady being tattooed here looked like she was in pain, and who could blame her! It took three and a half hours to do her back.

Miss Tattoo 2015

Miss Nikki Needles was the compere for the Miss Tattoo competition. She took out the competition back in 2013. 

Melissa Spiller, Gaina Rose, who was Miss Tattoo 2014, Event Organizer Criss Praze, and Nadine Marrio lined up as the Miss Tattoo judging panel. 

Serenity Steel was awarded first place in Miss Tattoo 2015

Emilie from San Francisco was awarded second place in Miss Tattoo 2015

Sammy Strickland was awarded third place in Miss Tattoo 2015

Ford’s Mustang – the endlessly hip American dream machine

28 May, 2026

Fifty or so years ago, the only place in New Zealand to see a Ford Mustang was on the racetrack. In a local market severely constrained by a lack of new motor vehicles, the new North American Ford was a dreamy icon boosted by considerable motorsport success.
Import licences for cars were limited, and if Kiwis travelled abroad, the amount of currency they could take with them was restricted. What’s more, those funds could not be used to buy a car for importation back home. Yet it was OK to spend the money on heavy drinking at a London pub, Gucci shoes, sable fur coats, and excessive stays at the Hôtel Martinez at Cannes in France.
However, any rare Mustang that landed on our shores would not be destined to pose around Auckland’s then trendy Queen Street on a Friday night but would more likely be found in the care of well-known racing drivers on the starting grid at local motor racing tracks.

Chrysler’s classy cruiser

22 May, 2026

I first saw our feature car, a 1970 V8-powered Regal 770 hardtop, towing a trailer carrying the tidy Ford Anglia classic racing saloon in Broadspeed racing colours that has featured in these pages. The coupe is comparatively rare here, which means anyone contemplating purchasing one of these big two-doors is sure to see prices continue to climb. The latter Charger has claimed much of the Aussie Chrysler limelight, but the simpler and classier lines of this car, which appeared dated soon after its introduction, now have a more timeless appeal.
Former owner, Balclutha motor engineer, Mike Verdoner, remembers the car well. He believes it came from Dunedin originally.
“I’m not sure about the car’s history, but I bought it off its owner at Kaitangata. Unusually, it was advertised in the local newspaper, the Clutha Leader, which was a surprise as these usually go for a lot more money on the internet. I had it for quite a few years. It needed a little bit of work to tidy it up, so I had to decide whether to spend the money on it to do it up, which could have been twenty grand. Its value at the time was not like it is now, so I sold it to Ewan. It’s probably now worth three or four times what I sold it for.”