Domestic Repatriations
Domestic repatriations have been carried out throughout the country to iwi (tribes) as far north as Ngāti Kuri, through to Ngāi Tahu in the South Island. To date the National Museum and the Karanga Aotearoa Repatriation Programme have returned some 87 ancestral remains to their attributed places of origin.
Many others are in the negotiation process, or are ready and awaiting the preparation of iwi facilities and burial spaces.
All arrangements for domestic repatriations are led entirely by iwi. Iwi determine the place, time and details for the repatriation and burial or funerary rites involved. Some iwi have chosen to make their own burial containers and collect their ancestors from Te Papa. Others have asked Te Papa to escort the ancestors home to their marae. Te Papa’s role at this stage of the repatriation process is simply to be supportive of iwi wishes.
Below is a list of the regions and iwi that the national museum and Karanga Aotearoa have domestically repatriated kōiwi tangata to. Please also find available for your reading, the kōiwi tangata reports for domestic repatriations that have occured since 2009.