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Bay of Plenty Business News November/December 2016

From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.

From mid-2016 Bay of Plenty businesses have a new voice, Bay of Plenty Business News. This new publication reflects the region’s growth and importance as part of the wider central North Island economy.

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8 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS <strong>November</strong>/<strong>December</strong> <strong>2016</strong><br />

Iconic tattoo event returns<br />

Stars <strong>of</strong> the hit reality TV show Ink Masters, a traditional Japanese<br />

tattoo artist and a man who paints on canvas using his own blood are<br />

the headline acts joining some <strong>of</strong> the world’s best street artists and<br />

performers at the 2017 International Tattoo & Art Expo in Tauranga.<br />

Now in its seventh year,<br />

the two-day event is<br />

the only convention in<br />

<strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong> to showcase the<br />

works <strong>of</strong> renowned international,<br />

national and local tattoo<br />

artists.<br />

The expo made the move<br />

from Hamilton for the first<br />

time this year – a reflection <strong>of</strong><br />

the event’s scale, says organiser<br />

Chris Preece <strong>of</strong> the Queen<br />

Elizabeth Centre location.<br />

“With a bigger focus on<br />

street culture and more family<br />

friendly attractions lined<br />

Tauranga waterfront<br />

project begins<br />

Tauranga’s new look<br />

waterfront should be<br />

completed in time to<br />

provide the perfect backdrop<br />

for next year’s Jazz Festival.<br />

Work <strong>of</strong>ficially began on<br />

the $2.8 million revamp in<br />

October with a blessing and<br />

sod turning ceremony led by<br />

new mayor Greg Brownless.<br />

The council approved the<br />

development nearly a year<br />

ago following feedback from<br />

the community, iwi and water<br />

users on the proposed concept.<br />

The contract awarded to<br />

HEB Construction has a value<br />

<strong>of</strong> $2.8 million. Deliverables<br />

include 49 metres <strong>of</strong> tidal<br />

stairs, a new 27 metre pier<br />

and a new 24 by 3 metre<br />

floating pontoon.<br />

The council expects construction<br />

to be completed and<br />

the new facilities to be open<br />

to the public by Easter next<br />

year.<br />

up, the event has just gone<br />

from strength to strength.<br />

This year, we’ve got some big<br />

names from the tattoo world,<br />

but we’ve also got some wellknown<br />

performers in our music<br />

and graffiti art arena – so it’s<br />

set to be a huge weekend.”<br />

Headliners <strong>of</strong> the expo<br />

include Jime Litwalk and<br />

Katherine ‘Tatu Baby’ Flores<br />

from the hit US reality TV<br />

show Ink Masters, who are not<br />

just known for their incredibly<br />

diverse and eye-catching<br />

work, but also their wild personalities.<br />

From Japan, traditional<br />

irezumi tattoo artist Ryugen<br />

specialises in tebori (hand<br />

poke tattooing). Tattoo art<br />

in the East Asia country has<br />

a history dating back to the<br />

Palaeolithic era and was at one<br />

point associated with the yakuza<br />

(Japanese organised crime<br />

syndicate).<br />

And then there’s Dr Rev,<br />

who creates incredibly detailed<br />

artworks – from his own blood.<br />

The Australian is a regular at<br />

the International Tattoo and<br />

Art Expo and never fails to<br />

disappoint the crowd.<br />

National artists include<br />

Tuigamala ‘Andy’ Tauafiafi<br />

from Wellington’s Taupou<br />

Tatau, a specialist in traditional<br />

Samoan ‘tatau’ who<br />

has tattooed the likes <strong>of</strong> Kiwi<br />

basketball star Steven Adams,<br />

and Tauranga’s own Benjamin<br />

Lloyd, who became a viral<br />

internet sensation for his airbrushed<br />

tattoos on children<br />

at Starship Children’s Health<br />

hospital.<br />

Chris, who founded the<br />

event because he believes art<br />

in all forms should be celebrated<br />

and showcased, says to<br />

have artists and tattooists <strong>of</strong><br />

this calibre in the <strong>Bay</strong> is a rare<br />

opportunity for the community<br />

– from those seeking a new<br />

piece <strong>of</strong> skin art, to those who<br />

simply want to experience art<br />

in all its unique forms.<br />

Mums and dads can<br />

marvel at the tattoo<br />

art and performances,<br />

while kids can be<br />

captivated by the<br />

live musical acts and<br />

street artists.<br />

“Art isn’t just what you<br />

see on a canvas. Tattooists see<br />

the skin as a blank canvas on<br />

which they can create extraordinary<br />

works. Whether you’re<br />

An artist’s impression <strong>of</strong><br />

Tauranga’s new-look waterfront.<br />

a tattoo aficionado or not, you<br />

can appreciate the skill and<br />

craft that goes into creating<br />

these pieces.”<br />

This year’s expo is more<br />

than just a tattoo-centric experience,<br />

adds Chris, with a<br />

heavy focus on complementary<br />

performances and events<br />

around these world-class ink<br />

artists.<br />

Music features performances<br />

from local musician Tiki<br />

Taane and a beatbox battle,<br />

hosted by the award-winning<br />

DJ Spell. Other events during<br />

the weekend-long expo include<br />

the ever-popular Miss Tattoo<br />

NZ beauty competition, aerial<br />

silk contortionist-turned-body<br />

builder Cassie Law, street art<br />

displays and the NZ versus<br />

Australia four-man Historical<br />

Medieval Battles.<br />

Chris says a focus on supporting<br />

attractions will make a<br />

trip to the expo a well-rounded<br />

experience, with something for<br />

everyone to enjoy.<br />

“Mums and dads can marvel<br />

at the tattoo art and performances,<br />

while kids can be<br />

captivated by the live musical<br />

acts and street artists.<br />

“It’s a window into a unique<br />

part <strong>of</strong> our arts and performance<br />

culture, and something<br />

you don’t get to experience<br />

every day. Make this a mustsee<br />

on your summer event<br />

list!”<br />

The International Tattoo<br />

& Art Expo is on Saturday,<br />

February 18, 11am-10pm<br />

and Sunday, February 19,<br />

11am-7pm, at Queen Elizabeth<br />

Youth Centre, Tauranga.<br />

Tickets are $20.<br />

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