February 29, 2024
Shame prompts quick return of taonga
The manager of Kaitaia’s Te Ahu Museum says the Māori community abhors the theft of taonga.
A ko or digging stick used for kumara cultivation was stolen from the museum last week but returned within six hours after Whina Te Whiu put out a plea on social media.
It follows the theft and return of a taonga from Te Rau Aroha in Waitangi in November.
Ms Te Whiu says the ko was taken by someone local.
“We know from the third party who returned it that the family was very distressed, and were very sorry that it happened and they just wanted it returned,” she says.
Te Ahu is reviewing its security but it would be a shame to lock everything in glass cases or behind barriers.