LIVERPOOL, UK.- The Trustees of National Museums Liverpool have agreed to return five items to New Zealand following a formal request from Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand in Wellington. All items are human remains including three preserved tattooed heads or toi moko. Toi moko were originally the heads of Maori warriors killed in battle - either the heads of friends or relatives were preserved to mourn over, or the heads of enemies were kept to curse and revile. However, by the 1820s, a well-established trade in toi moko had developed to supply museums and collectors in Europe and elsewhere. Whatever their precise origin, the remains have strong cultural, spiritual and religious significance to Maori communities today.

During the review of the request National Museums Liverpool staff carried out extensive historical research to verify the authenticity and provenance of the objects of the remains. Scientists consulted include a Home Office pathologist, the University of Bradford Department of Archaeological Sciences, and archaeological specialists at Te Papa and elsewhere in the Pacific.

The review found that all of the items in question have been in museum collections for more than 100 years and it is likely that the toi moko were originally collected and came to Liverpool as part of the 19th century trade in curios. Two Toi Moko were put on display at Liverpool Museum in 1976 when the museum re-opened after the WWII bombings, but withdrawn in 1982 as part of further gallery developments.

Until the Human Tissues Act was published in 2004 it was extremely difficult for national museums to remove human remains from their collections. Section 47 of the Act enabled the nine named museums to repatriate human remains if they thought it was appropriate. The Act came into force earlier this year and the Trustees of National Museums Liverpool authorised the return of the items to New Zealand at the first subsequent meeting, on 13 June 2006. The decision to return the objects is in line with Department of Culture, Media and Sport advice in Guidance for the Care of human remains in Museums which refers to the beneficial outcomes of dialogue for both parties involved in a repatriation request received in the UK.

On their return to New Zealand the remains will initially be kept in Te Papa's consecrated repositories while researchers try to identify their source communities more precisely.

National Museums Liverpool staff are in contact with Te Papa to arrange the handover of the five items.

David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool says: “It is of great importance that museums show the proper respect for human remains in their care and custody, and in this case that respect means returning the remains to New Zealand. I am personally very happy with this outcome, and I know our colleagues in New Zealand will treat these remains with reverence and sensitivity.”