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Te Motunui Epa

Te Motunui Epa tells the remarkable story of five intricately carved wooden panels created in the late 1700s by Taranaki relatives. These taonga have experienced a complex journey—commissioned, hidden, sold, smuggled, debated, and ultimately returned—shaping international law, cultural practices, and our understanding of the protection and repatriation of stolen treasures.

Rachel Buchanan (Taranaki, Te Atiawa) places these taonga and tupuna at the heart of the narrative, exploring how art can illuminate both the best and the worst in humanity. Richly illustrated, this book provides a rare and insightful account of the intersections between art, ancestry, and power, offering readers a deeply engaging cultural history.

Author: Rachel Buchanan
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781990046582

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