28/05/2026
Kia orana e te iti tangata
I want to acknowledge a flyer that was recently shared by BTIB about our studio. Although I’m sure it was meant to help promote us, it included incorrect information and wasn’t checked with us beforehand.
The flyer also advertised our studio under the wrong name “Pacific Ink” even though we have proudly transitioned to Te ‘Are Tātatau, a space grounded in Cook Islands identity, lineage, and cultural responsibility.
It also used photos of my clients and appears to have been run through an AI generator. For us, this is especially important to address. Our studio does not support AI‑generated art.
Our work is built on human hands, cultural knowledge, lived experience, and relationships. Using our clients’ images in AI content without consent compromises not only our integrity, but theirs as well.
We do not offer piercing and we do not want contact made my messenger.
We have actually gone public about this and how people have been lead to being scammed by thinking they are talking to our artist in messenger.
All our bookings are done either in house or through the website Tatatau.com
This isn’t about blame. It’s about reminding ourselves as a community that when representing cultural work , especially work tied to identity, heritage, and people, accuracy and communication matter.
All in all we would have really appreciated to be contacted to send in our own poster. We are also nurturing young local graphic designers that could have utilized this opportunity. We know it was AI as all this information is generic Info available online, Tattoo & Piercing is a category in Facebook but have never advertised that service.
Pacific Ink is a name I've operated under for 2 decades now, but as a tattooist only. The studio name is Te 'Are Tatatau
Meitaki maata to everyone who continues to support Te ‘Are Tātatau and understands the value of protecting our stories, our artists, and the integrity of our craft
