Tiki Taane launches competition for tattoo expo

The International Tattoo and Art Expo to be held in Tauranga next year is trying to appeal to children and families - with the help of musician Tiki Taane.

Tiki Taane is running a competition as part of the expo for a teenager to jam Always on My Mind with him live at the expo.

"I love the idea of making the expo more about families celebrating tattoo culture.

"[Tattoo art] is in my blood - it is part of my blueprint and part of my existence being a Maori man and my kids are brought up around it."

The competition was open to 12- to 18-year-olds. They would need to post a short video of them jamming Always on My Mind to Mr Taane's Facebook page to be in the running.

Mr Taane would watch the videos and choose a winner from the entries.

"I'm not looking for something specific - just someone who is natural, enjoying it and actually wants to do it," he said.

Mr Taane would perform a set himself on Sunday afternoon at the expo before calling the winner up on stage.

"I hope it gives them heaps of enjoyment and the encouragement and inspiration to continue on making music if that's what they want to be doing."

Mr Taane said the tattoo industry was "rocking" in Tauranga despite being a rather conservative city.

The expo would be a great way to show off local and international talents - "it doesn't mean while you're there you have to get tattooed."

Mr Taane and organiser Chris Preece believed the competition would encourage families to bring their children, enjoy food and live music and look at what was new in the tattoo industry.

This year Mr Preece is amping up the expo's family vibe.

"There's more market, more food, more music. It will be a fun vibe for people to chill out on the grass and hear Tiki and other acts," Mr Preece said.

There would be more than just tattoos, including graffiti artists painting live and Benjamin Lloyd would be back airbrush tattooing kids.

"We've got the best line-up of artists we've ever had. There's heaps going on, hopefully it will open people's eyes to the fact there's a lot more to the expo."

7TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL TATTOO AND ART EXPO
- Saturday, February 18 and and Sunday, February 19 from 11am-9pm
- At Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre
- Day pass: $20, Weekend pass: $35

COMPETITION TO PERFORM WITH TIKI TAANE
- 12- to 18-year-olds only
- Upload video singing Always on My Mind to Tiki's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TikiTaane/?fref=ts
- Tiki will pick the winner early February