A museum at Waitangi that opened to the public today has already been hit with a demand for the return of objects including Hone Heke's tomahawk.
The Museum of Waitangi, part of a $14 million redevelopment of the Treaty Grounds, was formally opened by the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, on Friday, and opened to the public today.
But Ngapuhi leader David Rankin has this evening contacted management to demand the return of two taonga he said his hapu, Te Matarahurahu, agreed to lend to the museum.
Mr Rankin told the Herald he had never been given any documentation after handing over the two precious items -- a tomahawk that belonged to his ancestor Hone Heke and a godstick used by the tohunga Papahurihia -- in July.
He said the final straw came when neither he nor any of his hapu's kaumatua were invited to the museum opening, and the artefacts had been treated "like items at a garage sale".