New Zealand family alleges museum altered records in dispute over Māori paintings

A dispute within a New Zealand family over 19th-century Māori paintings has led to allegations that a regional museum altered catalogue records prior to a repatriation decision a family member disputes, a claim now tied to an ongoing police investigation.

Whanganui Police previously confirmed to Urgent Matter it received a complaint on February 18, 2025, alleging the theft of “paintings” from the Whanganui Regional Museum. Police did not identify the complainant.

Police described the matter as involving items repatriated in 2023 after a lengthy museum investigation and instructions from its governing body, and said the investigation is ongoing.

The museum denied any theft occurred. John Smart, chairman of the museum’s board, said in an emailed statement last month that the allegations made against the museum are false.

Smart said the paintings at issue were taonga, treasured Māori cultural objects, held under a custodial framework in which a designated kaitiaki, or guardian, is chosen by the relevant iwi, hapū, or whānau — the tribe, sub-tribe or family to which the item belongs.

He said that, in 2023, the museum board decided to repatriate a painting to its kaitiaki following long-standing requests for its return. According to the museum, it received a complaint in early 2025 relating to the process used to carry out that repatriation.

“The museum conducted a thorough internal review of the decision and all the relevant documents supporting the repatriation, which found that the allegations made in the complaint were unfounded,” Smart said.

Smart said the museum does not determine who the official guardian of an object is, describing that process as one for the relevant whānau, or extended Māori family group, to resolve.

Lisa Reweti, a former museum employee involved in the dispute, provided documents alleging the paintings were taken from her father’s family.

Her materials include screenshots or transcriptions of catalogue entries, accession references and a detailed narrative alleging that specific works were swapped on paper to change how they appear in museum records.

“The Criminal Investigation Branch of the Whanganui police are close to laying charges and returning our stolen taonga,” she said.

Police have not publicly indicated that charges are imminent.