Dre Röck, a vital part of New Zealand’s tattoo industry for 20 years, who executes some of the best custom tattoo machines and is responsible for Lucky Supply NZ (New Zealand’s branch of one of the biggest tattoo supply companies worldwide) needed more storage for his historical tattoo collection. Dre enjoyed collecting tattoo memorabilia throughout his career, his friends in the industry caught wind and would gift him more and more. Eventually this collection grew too big to just be stowed away, and with the help of many persuasive voices, Dre finally decided to build Lucky’s Tattoo Museum, giving these invaluable pieces of history the attention they deserve!
So in 2018 Dre decided to find the perfect space to house this amazing collection of tattoo history. He found the home for it, 42A Ward street, which used to be Classic Cycles (which was around for 25 years!). He thought it would be perfect for a tattoo space.- Motorcycles and tattoos do go hand in hand. From then Lucky’s Tattoo Museum was born and it opened in November 2018.
Lucky’s Tattoo Museum has artefacts coming from all over the world, ranging from pre WWII all the way up to today, but its focus is on Australasian tattoo history. It is the biggest collection of New Zealand tattoo history artefacts on display in the Country.
It includes letters between between the legendary KEVIN GRAY to renowned artists such as Sailor Jerry, Lyle Tuttle, Doc Webb etc. Kevin owned a tattoo studio in Wellington which he opened in the early 1960s. He then gave the shop to the one and only Roger Ingerton in 1974 who then moved its location to 198 Cuba Street in 1977 where it still stands today.
On top of the grandfathers of New Zealand Tattooing, there are also letters and artefacts from other legends such as Cindy Ray, Tony Cohen, Olly Bott and Ed Hardy.
FULL of rich tattoo history - ranging from the American traditional art, to Traditional Uhi Ta Moko tools, Tatau, Irezumi and Borneo tools. These pieces aim to pay their respects to the roots of this culture, what it used to be and how it became what it is today.
We welcome you all to view our small slice of tattoo heaven! The one and only Tattoo Museum in New Zealand.
