Two women in black with green-leaved wreaths on their heads sit on a stage looking at boxes covered in feather cloaks

Collection management: Repatriation guide

The purpose of this resource guide is to provide museums with a foundation from which to develop their own practices and policies around repatriation of kōiwi tangata.

From case studies to research best practice, this guide provides key information on the process and practice of repatriation in Aotearoa.

Picture of a repatriation at Wairau bar showing iwi holding caskets

Repatriation in New Zealand

Find out about the history of collecting kōiwi (human remains) in Aotearoa, get to know some of the key people who collected and traded them, and learn about the development of our local repatriation movement.

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Provenance research

Provenance research is an essential part of any successful repatriation to ensure that kōiwi tangata (human remains) and taonga are rightfully returned to the correct source community. Learn where to look for information, how to build a collector profile, and what you need to do to verify and confirm your findings.

Case studies

Learn about some of the current examples of processes and practises of professionals working on repatriation throughout Aotearoa.

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The New Zealand Repatriation Research Network

Established in 2018, this network made up of 17 participating museums works together to provide advice and collaborative research on confirming the provenance of all kōiwi (ancestral remains) in our museums to aid in repatriation.