Tattoo artists in today’s world do the art as their passion and also as means of livelihood. Most of them have established their own shops transforming the art into a full time business venture. During Captain Cook’s exploration of New Zealand, tattooists were called tapu. They were considered as sacred because of their talent. They are the only ones who can execute Polynesian tattoo designs on the face and body.
As part of the tribe, it is their duty to do tattooing of the face and body. They do not earn anything from doing it but the recognition of their tribesmen. Captain Cook noted the skills of these tattooists in his account of the expedition. He noted that the markings might look similar at first glance but they turned out to be distinct from each other after close observation. The tapus became successful in what they do because they have a noble responsibility to their people.
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