Auckland Tattoo Studio

Auckland Tattoo Studio is New Zealand's longest established tattoo studio, operating in Auckland since founder Merv O'Connor set up shop on Ponsonby Road in 1988. A self-taught tattooer and former champion jockey, O'Connor began hand-poking tattoos over 65 years ago before moving from Whanganui to Auckland in 1969, opening his first street shop on Queen Street in 1970 and later working from Karangahape Road and Richmond Road before settling permanently in Ponsonby. Though O'Connor passed away in October 2017, the studio carries on his legacy and remains a fixture of New Zealand's tattoo history.

The studio welcomes walk-ins, whether clients bring their own design or choose from work created on-site, and is open seven days a week from 10AM. Its style range spans fineline, flash, traditional and single needle tattooing, alongside ta moko and Maori tattoo work, reflecting decades of accumulated experience across a broad body of work. Located on Ponsonby Road in Auckland, the shop maintains an approachable, no-fuss atmosphere true to its street-shop origins, inviting anyone in the area to stop by and discuss their next piece with the team in person.