I thought museum-l readers might be interested in a significant event occurring in Rotorua, New Zealand today.

The famous Maori carving known as Pukaki, which toured the United States as the centrepiece of the Te Maori exhibition in the mid-1980s is today to return home to Rotorua after an absence of 120 years.

Pukaki is regarded as the largest carving of a single Maori ancestor still surviving today. It was originally gifted by the Ngati Whakaue people to the Crown in 1877 as a "seal of trust" between the tribe and the Crown to mark the agreement which allowed the development of the town of Rotorua.

However, instead of being taken to Wellington as intended, the carving was kept in Auckland and immediately went on display at the Auckland Museum where it had remained,except for the Te Maori tour, until this morning.

It was only in 1995 when Ngati Whakaue researcher Paora Tapsell discovered how Pukaki had mistakeningly became the property of Auckland Museum instead of the Crown. Upon learning of the error, Auckland Museum decided to enable Pukaki to retun home.

The return will occur today, 2 October 1997, at 10.00am at Te Papa-i-Ouru marae, Ohinemutu, exactly 120 years after Pukaki was presented to the Crown. Auckland Museum representatives will accompany Pukaki from Auckland and will formally present him to the Governor General of New Zealand in the presence of Ministers of the Crown.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed to signify that the original presentation of Pukaki to the Crown in 1877 has finally been completed. The Governor General will formally accept Pukaki on behalf of the people of New Zealand.

Pukaki will then be carried throught the streets of Rotorua to the Rotorua District Council building where the Mayor of Rotorua will accept responsibility for the care of the carving on behalf of the people of New Zealand. Pukaki will then be erected by staff of Rotorua Museum in a gallery in the Council building and will overlook his home settlement of Pukeroa.

From henceforth, the 2nd of Cotober will be celebrated by all people of Rotorua as the day which commemorates the original beginning of the Rotorua township.


Greg McManus
Director
Rotorua Museum
Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa
Government Gardens
Rotorua
NEW ZEALAND