New Zealand emotionally welcomes the return of Maori remains from Austria
Human remains have been preserved for more than a century in the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, and the human remains of sixty-four citizens have been returned to their descendants. They were looted by Austrian embalmers at the end of the 19th century.e century.
Broken families have been waiting for this moment for generations. Dozens leftovers Māori Maurice, who has been in Austria for more than 130 years, was officially sent back to New Zealand on Sunday Vienna Museum of Natural History. The repatriation ceremony for the remains of 64 Maori and Moriori, indigenous peoples of the main islands of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, off the archipelago, was held at the Te Papa National Museum in Wellington where it will be held at a sacred site.
These remains, including the skulls, were in the Austrian capital for decades after they were looted from the tribe.iwiby Austrian embalmer and grave robber Andreas Reschick. He lived in New Zealand for twelve years, until 1889. In his memoirs he describes how many cemeteries were looted, without permission, particularly in the Chatham Islands, Christchurch or even Auckland.
Read alsoMaori, the first explorers of Antarctica
spirit of reconciliation
William “Pou” Tamara, chair of Te Papa’s repatriation advisory committee, said the resettlement, the largest to date from Austria to New Zealand, was significant. “It is always a relief and a spiritual privilege to welcome the return of our ancestors who were victims of such misdeeds.did he say. Culturally speaking, we know that they cry with joy to return to Aotearoa (New Zealand) where they will finally rest in peace.
Read alsoThe bronze coins were displayed for the last time in Berlin before returning to Nigeria
T. Arikirangi Mamako Ironside, the acting head of this operation, praised the assistance given by his Austrian colleagues to end 77 years of negotiations between the two countries. “The Museum of Natural History in Vienna is committed to righting wrongs and has approached this work in a spirit of openness and reconciliationWilliam Temara rejoiced, before adding that the government-funded repatriation program would continue.
“While there are more negotiations on the repatriation of the remains, there is still a lot of work to be done to bring all of our ancestors back home.”, specially. The human remains will remain at Te Baba while Iwi are consulted to determine their final burial place.
“Reader. Travel maven. Student. Passionate tv junkie. Internet ninja. Twitter advocate. Web nerd. Bacon buff.”