Another descendant of Hone Heke's family has cast doubt on claims that the chief's bones were removed from his burial cave two years ago.
An Auckland man, David Rankin, who has family links to the 19th century chief, says he took the bones to protect them and will re-inter them next month.
His claim has been queried first by a prominent Ngati Hine elder, Erima Henare, and now by another Heke descendant, Arthur Harawira, who says the hapu has many stories Mr Rankin has never been told.
Mr Harawira says the entire whanau needs to be involved in determining what happens with Heke - wherever he is and wherever he may finally lie.