An intricate tattoo of a tui with pohutukawa flowers by a Tauranga tattoo artist has won a national award.
Norton Hollows, of Bohemian Tattoo Arts, spent 15 hours on the tui tattoo, slightly smaller than an A4 piece of paper, which was drawn from a photograph.
The incredibly detailed tattoo sits on Otumoetai man Trevor Masters' right arm.
Mr Hollows specialises in realistic and abstract tattoos, so the opportunity to work on Mr Masters' tattoo appealed.
The small colour tattoo award, judged at last weekend's New Zealand International Tattoo and Art Expo, was the first tattooing award Mr Hollows had won. He said it was a cool award to win, but he thought Mr Masters was more excited about it than he was.