Today Korty Wilson - Kaihonohono-a-iwi - accompanied Te Papa Atawhai to gift a short-tailed pekapeka taonga specimen suitable for taxidermy. We understand that this specimen will be added to the Auckland Museum biodiversity display.
The provenance for the specimen gifted to Auckland Museum is from the Rangataua Forest. The gifting of the taonga from the Rangataua forest falls into the approval process of Te Pae Ao; the committee that now manages the reserves.
Ngāti Rangi acknowledges the relationship that will be developed through this process with Auckland Museum and other Crown archiving agencies through the Ngāti Rangi relationship agreement Whakaaetanga Tiaki Taonga 25 July 2019.
Ngāti Rangi is also keen to grow this relationship with the Crown agencies so that in the future other taonga specimen can be prepared for displays in the Ngāti Rangi Southern Gateway; the centre of cultural and scientific excellence.