The National Museum of Scotland has finalized the landmark repatriation of several sacred 19th-century Maori feather cloaks (Kahu Huruhuru) and ceremonial adzes to the Te Papa Tongarewa museum in New Zealand. The objects had been in the Scottish collection since 1895 and are considered of immense spiritual and ancestral importance to the Māori people.
A formal handover ceremony was held in Edinburgh, attended by Iwi (tribal) leaders and government representatives. The return is part of a broader commitment by Scottish institutions to address colonial-era acquisitions and ensure that culturally significant treasures are returned to their communities of origin for long-term stewardship.