June 22, 2020
Moriori try to save remaining tree carvings
Hokotehi Moriori Trust has won a $10,000 Lotteries Board grant to help it conserve the rākau momori or trees engraved by their Moriori ancestors.
Just 58 of what were once more than 1000 such dendroglyphs or living carvings remain on Rēkohu-Chatham Island.
Many trunks were taken to mainland museums in the 1950s and 60s, and in the past decade many more have been removed for conservation as changing land use exposes the forest to the wind.
The new conservation project is being done in collaboration with Otago Museum.
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