Saturnia Tattoos is a custom tattoo studio located within Lucky's Tattoo Museum NZ at 42A Ward Street in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. The museum opened its doors in November 2018, and the studio followed in February 2019, founded by Dre Rock and his wife Ludo Rock. The result is an unusual pairing: a working tattoo studio set inside a museum dedicated to tattoo culture, where visitors are welcome to drop in, browse the collection and chat with the artists about a future piece.
The team — Dre, Ludo, Stephen, Jo, Sage and Joseph — takes on both fully custom work and flash designs chosen in-store. Their range is broad: Traditional, Ta Moko, Neo Traditional, Horror, Japanese, Realism, Pop Culture and Anime are all on the table. Design time is built into the overall price rather than charged separately, and every drawing is gone over with the client before any work begins.
The studio runs Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm, and bookings start with a detailed online request form covering subject, placement, size and style preference. A non-refundable deposit secures each appointment and comes off the final cost, and one free touch-up within six months is included with completed tattoos.
Beyond tattooing, Saturnia runs an online shop carrying prints, apparel, aftercare products, gift cards and stickers, and shares new work daily on Instagram at @saturnia_tattoos.
On Ward Street in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, a tattoo studio and a museum share the same roof. Saturnia Tattoos operates within Lucky's Tattoo Museum NZ, a space that opened in November 2018 with the studio following in February 2019. Both are the project of Dre Rock and his wife Ludo Rock, who paired a working studio with a collection celebrating tattoo culture — so a visit here is equal parts appointment and outing.
The museum is not a quiet backdrop. The studio welcomes everyone to come in, look at what the museum has to offer and chat with the artists about a future tattoo — no booking required just to browse. It's an easy, low-pressure way to get a feel for the space before committing to an appointment. One note: the museum isn't suitable for children, as some of its material, including documentaries, is not appropriate for young visitors.
Saturnia covers a genuinely wide range: Traditional, Ta Moko, Neo Traditional, Horror, Japanese, Realism, Pop Culture and Anime. We can do it all, the team says. The resident artists are Dre, Ludo, Stephen, Jo and Sage, with Joseph also taking bookings. Each has their own process and portfolio, and the studio's Instagram, @saturnia_tattoos, posts daily — an easy way to find the artist whose style matches your idea.
There are two ways to get inked here. A fully custom piece starts with the studio's online booking request form, where you outline your subject, placement, size and style preference — full colour, black and grey, line-work or realism. Design time isn't charged separately; it's factored into the overall price. Alternatively, the studio keeps flash designs in-store at a set price, ready for anyone who would rather pick a piece off the wall.
Designs are generally viewed on the day of the appointment, and the team always sits down with you to go over the drawing first, making sure everything is right and you are completely happy before they begin. Small tweaks on the day are no problem; a complete re-draw may require a fresh deposit.
Every booking requires a non-refundable deposit, which comes off the final price of the tattoo — or the final session, for multi-session work. Appointments can be postponed once or twice with at least a week's notice; cancellations forfeit the deposit, and deposits left pending expire after three months. Once your tattoo is complete, one touch-up is free within six months — though the studio notes that well-healed tattoos rarely need one.
Payment is due in full on the day of the appointment. Cash and bank transfer are preferred; cards are accepted with a small surcharge. There are no instalments — a tattoo, in the studio's view, should be a well-earned treat.
The studio's pre-appointment advice is practical: no alcohol or drugs beforehand, including the night before; plenty of water; a good night's sleep; and a big breakfast on the day. Long sessions put the body under stress, so bring a snack and a drink — though sugary drinks, chocolates and lollies are on hand if you need a top-up.
A few house rules make visits smoother. The studio is small, so it's best to come alone unless a parent or guardian is required, or you have arranged a support person in advance. Ages 16 and 17 can be tattooed with a parent or legal guardian present and both IDs shown; anyone 18 or over simply brings their own ID.
Saturnia Tattoos is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm, at 42A Ward Street, Upper Hutt. Walk-ins are welcome to explore Lucky's Tattoo Museum and talk through ideas with the artists, while tattoo appointments are best secured through the online booking form. If you're shopping rather than sitting in the chair, the studio's online store carries prints, apparel, aftercare products, gift cards and Stephen stickers — and subscribing to the newsletter gets you first word on merch releases and events.