Andreas Reischek

Andreas Reischek ANDREAS REISCHEK worked as a collector and Taxidermist at the Wanganui Museum and the Auckland Museum. He was responsible for the slaughter of many native birds namely the HUIA. Many of his stuffed subjects are dispersed thru museums worldwide, but in particular the VIENNA Museum. REISCHEK also spent time in the Waikato where he befriended many Maori. In his book the "COLLECTOR" REISCHEK Biographer MICHAEL KING chronicles the exploits of the Taxidermist. While in the Waikato REISCHEK paid several Maori to help him rob the burial cave of Maori chief TUPAHAU. 2 mummified TUPAPUKU (Bodies) were removed including a child's body. They were sent back to VIENNA. and remained there till Maori Queen TE ATAIRANGI KAHU went to VIENNA in the 90s at the invitation of the Museum. She was unaware they were to offer her her ancestor's remains expecting her to bring them back with her. She being the Maori Queen and a RANGATIRA it was inappropriate that she do this. Identification was able to be proved because REISCHEK named all the graves he robbed and the names of the ancestors in his book "YESTERDAYS IN MAORILAND". REISCHEK then travelled to Northland and continued his pillaging of Maori Graves. He concentrated on the KAIPARA HARBOUR and sent many of these remains back to Europe. Again he chronicled these happenings in his infamous book. My relation SIR JAMES HENARE asked MAUI POMARE to request from the VIENNA MUSEUM that the remains from KAIPARA HARBOUR be returned. POMARE was in contact with the Museum prior to his death and the request had reached a stalemate. In a letter to POMARE the Museum have changed their policy on the return of any more Maori remains in their collection. HENARE also believed REISCHEK dug up the grave of NGATI HINE chief MAIHI PARAONE KAWITI. According to many elders they believed REISCHEK severed the head of MAIHI and sent it back to EUROPE. In "MOKOMOKAI the DOCUMENTARY" MICHAEL KING said he hadn't heard of that rumour, but MAUI POMARE in correspondence to me said We have to take into consideration the preoccupation of western cultures to chronicle their History in written text. We the Maori however recorded our history via our visual art,verbal history and waiata. POMARE believed if the elders told HENARE about the KAWITI incident then we could not dispute it never happened. He also believed REISCHEK was such a fastidious recorder of his Heinous crimes yet why then had he never bragged of the KAWITI grave robbing. The body of TUPAHAU remained in AUSTRIA till Maori Queen TE ATAIRANGI KAHU went to VIENNA in the 90s at the invitation of the Museum. She was unaware they were to offer her her ancestor's remains expecting her to bring them back with her to New Zealand. She being the Maori Queen and a RANGATIRA for her to do this it was considered to be inappropriate. The remains were sent back at a later date and were kept for some time by the AUCKLAND MUSEUM . TAINUI were given back the remains of their king and he was reburied at Taupiri Mountain the Ancestral burial grounds of TAINUI Chief'(s). The Austrians lost the other body of the small child. REISCHEK Biographer MICHAEL KING when being interviewed for the 1 Hr episode which deals with REISCHEK and other Maori grave robbers states. "REISCHEK ransacked Maori graves". Na MAUI DALVANIUS PRIME Director MOKOMOKAI the DOCUMENTARY For a complete list of Books avaliable by Michael King see Merchandising.