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Know the law: How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Wellington?

Wellington tattoo artists are masters of their craft, transforming skin into living canvases with intricate designs and vibrant colours. But they’re not miracle workers – they can’t magically age you up, and that matters. 

So before you start scrolling through Instagram for inspiration and dreaming of that perfect piece, let’s have a little chat about the things to consider before getting a tattoo, like the legal age.

We’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of age restrictions, parental consent, and all the other juicy details you need to know before you can confidently walk into a tattoo studio and say, “Ink me!”

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There is no national legal age restriction for getting a tattoo in New Zealand, but there are local ones. This means you can’t just waltz into, say, any tattoo studio in Wellington at age 12 and demand a full sleeve of unicorns. You have to check local councils’ and regions’ laws.

Can you get a tattoo if you’re a minor in Wellington?

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Most reputable tattoo studios in Wellington will not tattoo minors (under the age of 18) without parental consent. 

Some studios might even have stricter policies and refuse to tattoo anyone under 18, regardless of parental consent, to maintain professional and ethical standards.

How do tattoo studios verify age in Wellington?

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In Wellington, tattoo studios generally verify age the same way most businesses do: by asking for official identification. This could be a driver’s licence, passport, or any government-issued ID that shows your date of birth. 

So, if you’re planning on getting inked in Wellington before you turn 18, make sure you bring along a parent or guardian and some proof of age – unless you’ve perfected the art of looking deceptively mature!

But age verification isn’t the only protocol in place. Regardless of age, reputable studios also ensure your safety through strict hygiene standards. If you want to learn more about this, you can check out our article here