Precious carved pataka panels which were illegally smuggled out of the country in the 1970s have gone on public display in New Plymouth today.
The Motunui Epa is displayed on a revolving platform so visitors can appreciate how the raised storehouse looked when in use. Photo: Radio NZ / Robin Martin
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson unveiled the Motunui Epa at their new home at the Puke Ariki Museum.
Carved by Te Atiawa artists sometime between 1750 and 1820, the raised storehouse panels were discovered in a swamp in the early 1970s, but then spirited out of the country using false papers in 1973 and sold to Geneva-based collector George Ortiz for about $100,000.
When the Epa was put up for auction in 1978, the government began a long crusade to get it returned.
Minister Finlayson said today that the effort had been worthwhile.
"They look absolutely stunning. Any kiwi should find their way to Puke Ariki as quickly as possible because they'll see all the effort that went into getting them back from overseas, an effort that lasted well over 30 years, has been worth it."
Mr Finlayson acknowledged former Attorney General Sir Jim McLay, who was at the ceremony, for his role in the long legal battle to return the Epa, and the Ortiz family for allowing the Epa to be repatriated
A portion of the Motunui Epa which went on display at the Puke Ariki Museum in New Plymouth today. Photo: Radio NZ / Robin Martin
The taonga was eventually returned to New Zealand in late 2014 at a cost - to the Crown - of about $4.5 million plus legal costs.
Puke Ariki's kaumatua committee chairman, Hone Niwa, said seeing the Motunui Epa on display was an emotional experience.
"It's probably because during the times they were deposited into the swamp where they were relocated they were put there for a reason.
"That probably was because they were not to be found because of what they revealed in in them in terms of the stories and those sort of aspects, but that's all be put behind us in terms of the tapu that was contained in these taonga."
Mr Niwa said the style of carving was unique to Taranaki.
"There's no doubt about them that they are Taranaki style carvings in terms of the forehead, the head, in terms of the shape of the mountain. The body stylised like the formation when Taranaki left its colleagues in the centre of the island and came to Taranaki. That is stylised there quite clearly."
It is not known who buried the Epa in the Motunui swamp but was most likely done to stop invaders from the north taking it as treasure.
The swamp is in the whenua of the Te Atiawa hapu Ngati Rahiri.
Puke Ariki's kaumatua committee chairman, Hone Niwa, said seeing the Motunui Epa on display was an emotional experience. Photo: Radio NZ / Robin Martin
Hapu member Te Urumairangi Ritai said having the panels back reconnected her with her tipuna.
"I think it is just a reminder of where we came from. I mean we could only imagine it growing up in our time what it looked like in the past when our tipuna were living, so it brings them a lot closer to me. It brings them a lot closer to what I feel, the wairua, the spiritual element of that."
Mrs Ritai said now it was time to share the treasure with the wider community.
"How I feel today is that it is the final closure and it's now time to open it up to our communities, our young people in the community. Everybody can come and see what it means to Ngati Rahiri and our people."
The carvings are technically still owned by the Crown but they will be jointly managed by the Motunui Epa Guardians Trust, which is made up of representatives of Te Atiawa, Ngati Rahiri and the Crown.
The Epa will remain on permanent display at the Puke Ariki Museum.