Ink Andrew Voerman

tattoo taboo
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reported to be reviewing its policy. The Marlborough District Council, like many Blenheim businesses, does not have a specific policy on tattoos, but does have a dress code that calls for staff to be well presented, which might require tattoos to be covered up if necessary. Other businesses said presentation was an important consideration. Musicworks senior sales consultant Raewyn Rice said that the negative associations tattoos attracted, even if inaccurate, meant they could be offensive to some people. Water Mouth cafe owner Juliet Partington said tattoos were more acceptable in her industry and while she did not like them herself, several of her staff did have them visible. Black Rose Tattoo Emporium owner Willy Wills said tattoos were more acceptable in the workplace than they used to be. He has tattooed police officers, nurses and QCs, as well as people as old as 70. Being well tattooed himself, he gets looks all the time, but no one ever says anything derogatory.

attoos are becoming more and more common in our society, and are worn increasingly as a matter of pride. It means that unless they happen to be intimately-located, they are much less likely to be hidden from view in public. For some businesses, it has triggered a conscious shift in thinking, and tolerance has become the watchword. Enquiries by the Saturday Express discovered Blenheim businesses are generally accepting of staff with tattoos, but only if they are not offensive to customers. Owner of McCormick & Co Jewellers Pam McCormick says it is a matter of judging each case on its own merits. There are tasteful tattoos and there are less than tasteful tattoos. Tim Thomas of Thomass was fine with his staff having tattoos, as long as theyre not offensive, he said. Air New Zealand has come in for criticism after rejecting a job applicant because who had a Maori tattoo. It does not allow frontline staff to have visible tattoos, though is

Paora Mackie, a tattooist specialising in ta moko. Pictured here tattooing his brother in Grovetown, Blenheim last year. Photo: SUPPLIED.