Born in Rarotonga, Ruatoto moved to New Zealand at the age of 18 and began his tattooing journey 10 years ago in our Auckland studio. Before moving to Queenstown Ruatoto decided to expand his horizons by traveling and tattooing in Europe, Since relocating to our Queenstown studio 6 years ago, Ruatoto has quickly become a favorite among clients, celebrated for his exquisite ta moko and mixed culture style. His unique ability to blend Polynesian designs into intricate, detailed pieces has earned him a loyal following, with clients traveling from all over the world to receive his art.
Ruatoto’s exceptional talent has been recognized at the Tattoo Hui convention, where he has won multiple awards, including Best Sleeve of the Show in 2020, Best Polynesian Tattoo of the Show in 2023, and Runner-Up for Best Tattoo of the Day in 2023.
While his mastery of ta moko and Polynesian designs is unparalleled, Ruatoto is also highly sought after for his fine line and mandala work, creating stunningly delicate pieces that resonate with fans of these styles.
If you would like to see more of Rua’s work please check out his IG pages. For all of his cultural work @ruatoto and for all his fine line fans @littleruatoto
If you would like to make a booking with Rua please email [email protected]
