Tattoo delays 'put lives at risk'

Pa'u Tafa Mulitalo's traditional pe'a is a mark of rank and duty. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Delays in developing guidelines for the safe practice of traditional Polynesian tattooing are putting lives at risk, Samoan chiefs warn.

The Malofie Society, a group of Samoan chiefs and orators who wear the traditional pe'a (male tattoo) on their bodies as a mark of rank, is disappointed with the Ministry of Health for failing to provide policy and operational guidelines on the ancient practice.

It is four years since the death of James Leota-Tui, who suffered acute heart failure due to septicaemic shock, caused by an infection acquired during the tattooing. The 29-year-old became ill while having a traditional tattoo from his navel to his knees completed.

Testing of the tattooist's tools and ink found they were contaminated with a variety of bacteria and following the death, coroner Dr Murray Jamieson recommended the use of sterilised instruments with ultrasonic cleansing.

In the aftermath, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service said guidelines were being drawn up for traditional tattooists.

But Pa'u Tafa Mulitalo, the Malofie Society's secretary, said little had been done since. It was expected the guidelines would protect public safety and promote hygiene standards among Samoan tufuga (tattooists) regarding their practice.

But health officials had met the society once, for less than two hours in South Auckland last year, to discuss health standards and Samoan protocols.

"That was the last we heard from the Ministry of Health."

Mr Mulitalo warned there would be another death due to poor hygiene standards and practice.

"It is not just getting a pe'a tattooed. It is also about providing adequate information to families, individuals, and people about self-care, how to fofo [massage] the pe'a throughout the duration of tattooing, the sa [taboos] associated with ancient beliefs of tatauing [tattooing] and post care after each session."

He said the risks associated with the ancient body art were very high.

"But it seems that the Ministry of Health has ... adopted a could-not-care-less-type attitude in dealing with this issue."

Mr Mulitalo said a Samoan man having his pe'a tattooed by a West Auckland tufuga almost had his leg amputated last year after being admitted to Auckland City Hospital.

"His leg had swollen up and the tattoo was breaking up - it looked like cracked tarseal."

He said the tufuga operated from a small flat where he lived with his family in Glen Eden.

"The tools and rags he uses are dirty, hand gloves are not worn ... the au [sharp implements used for tattooing] are unsterilised and below hygiene standards.

"He charges $2000 to do a pe'a and $700 for the malu [female tattoo] for his services.

"He buys black ink for printing materials straight from the shop and uses it for his tattooing operations. What people don't realise is that this ink could be a risk factor to their blood and survival."

Mr Mulitalo said such backstreet operations should be stopped.

Dr William Rainger, manager of the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, said guidelines for traditional tattooing had been drafted but he acknowledged it had been a "protracted process".

Dr Rainger said the service contracted to the ministry to provide educational resources such as material on preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

He said there had been a delay in this case, partly because of the difficulty in staff getting in touch with the Samoan chiefs' society.