Indigenous New Zealanders fight to repatriate their ancestors’ stolen remains: ‘they were viewed as specimens’

Some European settlers developed a grim fascination with the remains of indigenous Maori people and Morioris, who are native to the Chatham Islands

The biggest trophies were the tattooed heads of warriors and leaders. Since 2003, experts from Te Papa museum have scoured the globe to locate them

Reading Time:3 minutes

People carry boxes holding the remains of indigenous Maori following their repatriation from museums overseas at New Zealand’s Te Papa national museum earlier this month. Photo: Te Papa / AFP

Published: 3:33pm, 19 Jun 2023

Snatched by grave robbers or traded by settlers as macabre curiosities, the remains of New Zealand’s indigenous people are slowly being brought home after centuries overseas.

After British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in New Zealand in 1769, some European settlers developed a grim fascination with the remains of indigenous Maori people and Morioris, who are native to the Chatham Islands.

To colonial traders, the biggest trophies to be had were the tattooed heads of indigenous warriors and leaders.

In the name of crude scientific research, grave robbers also plundered indigenous human remains from burial sites across the country, mostly during the 19th century, which is still a source of anger and grief for many New Zealanders.

The remains of an indigenous Maori are displayed on a dais during a ceremony at New Zealand’s Te Papa national museum in Wellington this month, following repatriation from museums overseas. Photo: Te Papa / AFP

Since 2003, experts from New Zealand’s Te Papa national museum in Wellington have scoured the globe to locate them.

Indigenous New Zealanders fight to repatriate their ancestors’ stolen remains: ‘they were viewed as specimens’

Some European settlers developed a grim fascination with the remains of indigenous Maori people and Morioris, who are native to the Chatham Islands The biggest trophies were the tattooed heads of warriors and leaders. Since 2003, experts from Te Papa museum have scoured the globe to locate them

Some European settlers developed a grim fascination with the remains of indigenous Maori people and Morioris, who are native to the Chatham Islands

The biggest trophies were the tattooed heads of warriors and leaders. Since 2003, experts from Te Papa museum have scoured the globe to locate them