Joseph Los’e, Call for Te Papa to repatriate kauri bust of Ngati Porou chief who signed the Treaty, NZ Herald, 11 January 2026
A kauri bust of Māori chief Tamati Tamaiwhakanehua – who signed the Treaty of Waitangi – is going on the auction block in London.
Labour MP Willie Jackson is calling on Te Papa to intervene to ensure the taonga (treasure) is returned to its rightful owners.
The kauri gum bust of Ngati Porou Chief Tamati Tamaiwhakanehua (1795-1854), carved out of fossilised resin, has an $24k estimate and is part of a Sworders of London auction next month.