University of Birmingham – media invitation
Maori repatriation ceremony
The University of Birmingham has discovered a collection of Toi moko (preserved Mäori tattooed heads) which it wishes to
reunite with the Maori people. University representatives made contact with cultural organisations in New Zealand to
begin the process of repatriating the artefacts to their rightful home.
A delegation from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa will now be visiting the University to take receipt of
these spiritual items and return them to New Zealand, where they will attempt to discover which communities they
originated from through a research programme.
A ceremony will be held at the University to handover the items and allow the Te Papa delegation to take them back to
New Zealand and offer the Toi moko a resting place in their spiritual home.
Date: Friday 18 October 2013
Time: 11am (ceremony)
1pm (interviews and photos)
Please note: Interviews with selected Maori representatives will also be available at 10am or 1pm.
Venue: Aston Webb building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
What: The formal handover ceremony will take place between 11am and 12pm. Interviews will be available with Te Papa
representatives and University spokespeople.
Photos will be able to be taken from 1pm.
ENDS