Domestic repatriationTe whakahoki tūpuna ki ngā uri

Te Papa has supported the repatriation of Māori and Moriori ancestral remains to iwi and imi throughout Aotearoa and Rēkohu Chatham Islands.

All arrangements for domestic repatriations are led by iwi Māori and imi Moriori, with support from Te Papa. They determine the place, time, and details for the repatriation and burial or funerary rites. Iwi Māori and imi Moriori choose to either collect their ancestors’ remains from Te Papa or have them escorted home.

Find out more about seeking the domestic return of kōiwi tangata and kōimi tchakat from Te Papa.

Karanga Aoteaora is guided by its Kōiwi Tangata Policy when it returns kōiwi tangata, kōimi tangata/kōimi tchakat and Toi moko to their whānau, hapū, iwi or rohe/takiwā.

A copy of the programme’s present Kōiwi Tangata Policy is attached to this webpage for your information.

Importantly, we engage in conversations with the respective iwi authority. Where there are multiple iwi involved, we seek clarity from all representative groups. Importantly, previous findings and recommendations by the Waitangi Tribunal may be of guidance in seeking clarity.

The process of return may include the following elements:

Domestic repatriations to date

Te Papa and our dedicated Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Programme have returned kōiwi tangata to the following regions and iwi.