February 19, 2015
Kauri treasures disappearing offshore
Collector and curator John Perry is concerned significant kauri gum artefacts could be lost to overseas collectors.
Te Papa kaihautu Arapata Hakiwai has called for tougher enforcement of Protected Objects Act (1975) to stop culturally significant taonga being taken overseas illegally.
Mr Perry, who last night sold a small collection of prints and photographs of Maori at an Auckland auction, says there are some large collections of kauri gum coming up for auction in the next few weeks.
"A lot of the kauri gum is now finding its way off shore and nobody really seems to care. I refer to kauri as the gold from the north and I know there has been a big debate about moa bones. I think kauri gum is right up there with moa bones and the significant pieces should absolutely remain here in New Zealand," he says.
Mr Perry says there was a big Maori presence in the kauri gum industry, which thrived from about 1870 to 1920.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com