“The investigation has a number of complexities to it and is ongoing.”
Police were not seeking any other parties regarding the matter.
Museum joint council chairman Dr John Smart told the Chronicle he was aware of the police investigation and “a disagreement around the repatriation”, and the police had not raised any concerns with the museum so far.
Smart said in a statement that there had been no theft or unexplained absences of collection items.
“The museum takes great care of its collection items.
“Taonga held in the museum’s collection have a designated kaitiaki chosen by that iwi, hapū, or whānau.
“In 2023, the museum board decided to return a painting to the kaitiaki of that item following long-standing requests for its return.”
In early 2025, the museum received a complaint relating to the repatriation process, and an internal review was conducted, Smart said.
He said the review found that allegations made in the complaint were unfounded.
“Establishment of kaitiaki of taonga is not determined by the museum and are for the relevant whanau to resolve.
“The decisions on repatriation of taonga are taken by the joint council of the museum on the advice of the Tikanga Māori House and follow a thorough process.”
The museum is run by a joint council of representatives from the Tikanga Māori House and the Civic House.
Smart said the issue was unrelated to the resignation of museum director Dr Bronwyn Labrum.
Labrum resigned last month after five years in the role.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
