The Ministry of Health is advising people who are considering getting a tattoo to be cautious, because of the potential risks involved.
It says poor hygiene poses the greatest risk.
While most tattoo inks meet voluntary guidelines for heavy metals, the ministry says some may contain the chemicals at greater than recommended levels.
It says those considering a tattoo should ask first how the tattooist manages the risk of infection and about the composition of the inks to be used.
