Museum bows to ultimatum from tribe

Maori burial chests will be removed from display at Auckland Museum in a row over ownership and cultural sensitivity.

The waka koiwi have been in the museum for the past few years, but last night they were being taken off public display after threats of a protest of about 100 people.

Ngati Hine, a Northland tribe, said it would stay in the museum until the chests were removed.

Iwi representative Rewi Spraggon said staff had refused to move the chests, which originally held bones of the tribe's ancestors, despite almost a year of appeals. The chests, originally put in caves to rest in peace, were dug up in 1880 and sold to collectors before ending up with the museum.

"They are on display as a financial drawcard for the museum, which is culturally insensitive," Mr Spraggon said.

Dr Paul Tapsell, the museum's Maori director, said there was an existing understanding about the chests. Tribal elders and authorities were consulted and agreed to the display in the 1990s.

But alternative views had arisen and the museum needed to seek clarification of trusteeship.

"Not wanting to exacerbate anything or anyone, we are removing the display until further dialogue can be held," Dr Tapsell said.

According to Maori custom, the burial chests are the vessels in which the ancestors travel to the afterlife. Dr Tapsell said the human remains had been removed and put into safe storage a long time ago.