Te Papa To Undertake Second Largest Repatriation Of Maori Human Remains From The United Kingdom And Europe

Thirty-three Mäori ancestral remains will be repatriated by Te Papa from five museums and institutions in Wales, Scotland, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland between 16 November and 28 November. The largest repatriation took place in 2007 when 45 kōiwi tangata were repatriated from the United Kingdom.

The institutions are:

o National Museum Wales, Cardiff (Monday 16 November)

o Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Gothenburg, Sweden (Wednesday 18 November)

o Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg, Sweden (Wednesday 18 November)

o Hunterian Museum, Glasgow University, Scotland (Monday 23 November)

o Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland (Wednesday 25 November)

Note: the dates above are Northern Hemisphere dates

The majority of the ancestral being repatriated are köiwi tangata (skeletal remains) and four are toi moko (tattooed preserved heads). The köiwi tangata and toi moko will be welcomed onto Te Papa’s marae in a ceremony on Monday 30 November.

‘This is both a time for sad reflection on the turbulent journeys these ancestors experienced and, at the same time, a cause for joy and hope as they are returned’, said Ms Michelle Hippolite, Te Papa’s Acting Chief Executive and Kaihautū.

‘On behalf of the Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Team, I thank the institutions involved for their positive decisions to repatriate and for their support in the repatriation planning’, said Ms Hippolite.

Further information about the repatriating institutions and the Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Programme is contained within the attached media release.

ENDS