About Kaea

Established in 2023, Kaea specialises in advocating for indigenous communities, and collaborating with cultural institutions, to promote the restitution of cultural heritage and the repatriation of ancestral remains.

Kaea is led by Te Arikirangi Mamaku-Ironside, who has worked for more than a decade to return Māori and Moriori ancestral remains from the collections of international institutions back home to their descendants. Through this new endeavour, Kaea provides opportunities for communities and organisations to find common ground, work together to heal from the past, and establish pathways for future cooperation, based on the principles of mutual respect, integrity, dignity and trust.