Nine To Noon New Auckland tattoo convention hopes to leave a mark
Mar 10, 2026
Madeline Kaye, operations manager and event organiser for Roots Auckland Tattoo Convention. Ben Kaye, tattoo artist with 19 years’ experience and international work. They talk about apprenticeship and training, technological advances in tattooing, designing large and 3D-realism pieces, cultural ta moko representation, and the convention’s scale and artist lineup.
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From Skink's To A Family Studio In Gray Lynn
- Ben moved from working at Skink's to partnering at Ship Shape Tattoo and now runs a large studio.
- His studio in Gray Lynn hosts 10–11 artists, includes family-friendly touches and his kids have grown up around the shop.
Roots Name Ties Convention To Local Tattoo Heritage
- The convention name Roots connects tattooing to New Zealand's cultural history and traditions.
- Madeline explains they chose Roots to reflect Aotearoa's deep links to moko and the local tattoo culture.
Tattooing Now Seen As A Booming Extreme Art Form
- Tattooing is experiencing a creative boom with artists treated as fine artists.
- Madeline says the form is more visible and artists are being showcased for extreme artistry and sophisticated design work.