Mixed views on tattoo removal costs

The case of a Christchurch man who has a "skinhead" tattoo across his forehead, but wanted taxpayer help to have it removed, has sparked discussion over whether the Government should fund tattoo removal.
Radio DJ Simon Barnett has donated $2000 towards the cost of 28-year-old Carl Drewett having the tattoo he had done in prison removed.
But Mr Drewett's expectation that taxpayers would pay for the process has sparked debate in the body-inking industry.
John Webster practised laser tattoo removal with his company Invisible Ink for two years before closing the business in February and said Drewett and others like him should be eligible for a state-funded second chance.
"It really is a social equation. There is no point having them sitting on the unemployment benefit because visible tattooing has made them unemployable."
In 2009, a UMR Research survey found 15 per cent of New Zealanders with a tattoo regretted the decision.
Mr Webster said he had seen 50-year-old ex-gang members shed tears of joy after having gang tattoos removed but he had also seen a former inmate have a moko removed only to return to prison within a year with a new moko.
Ministry of Social Development community liaison adviser Julie Hill said a Transition to Work Grant could be used to pay for essential costs to get work including tattoo removal.
Other local tattoo artists spoken to were against taxpayer-funded removal.
Tattoo artist Louis Hill did not think taxpayers should fork out for the cost and said he wouldn't contribute to the problem by tattooing areas of the body that might be seen professionally, such as the head, forehead or fingers.
Tattoo artist Ryan Brooke had been tattooing for six years and said he seen regrettable body art result in creative cover-ups. He recalled a jilted lover who, upon divorcing his wife, had the tattoo of her name covered with a red stamp.
Mr Brooke was strongly against the cost being paid for by public coffers. "If I went out and crashed my car I wouldn't expect taxpayers to pay for it."
"Especially when some people get things tattooed that are intimidating or frowned upon. They are stupid enough to get it done, so of course they are stupid enough to think the public should pay to clean it up."
Other findings from the 2009 UMR Research survey were that 19 per cent of adults have been tattooed, with the rate rising to 36 per cent among adults younger than 30. It was also found that 22 per cent of women have been tattooed, compared with 17 per cent of men.
Odd tattoos done by Tauranga tattooists

* An email address.
* Daffy Duck pushing a lawnmower.
* A half-eaten donut.
* A Mexican candy skull.
* A piece of video game hardware.
* GoldenPalace.com across the forehead (an online gambling website).
* A "to do" list.