Some of New Zealand's most colourful and creative works of body art were showcased in Tauranga over the weekend.
The NZ International Tattoo and Art Expo was held at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre to thousands of fans, tattoo enthusiasts and intrigued punters.
More than 150 tattoo artists from around the world took part, including artists who created tattoos by scalpel, inserted skin implants and pierced various body parts. Among the international artists was Horihide, an artist specialising in traditional Japanese tattooing called irezumi - a method of tattooing in which the artist uses hand poking to complete the tattoo.
Hamish Mabon-Ross came from Dunedin for the event.
"I'd never been to a convention before. It's quite fun," he said. Mr Mabon-Ross was yesterday in the process of getting his latest tattoo, after already gaining a gorilla tattoo on his chest on Saturday at the event. The two tatts follow several tattoos on Mr Mabon-Ross' arms which form two separate sleeves.