Carved panels journey to New York, Geneva and London

The story begins in the early 1800s in Peropero swamp, just north of Waitara. Taranaki was teetering on the edge of what would be almost a century of war, and Te Atiawa hapu moved quickly to dismantle their most important public buildings and hide significant pieces in the swamps. One hundred and fifty years later the epa - serpentine figures carved in five totara panels - went on a journey, to New York, Geneva, London and the Royal Courts of Justice. Author Rachel Buchanan's new book, Te Motunui Epa, examines how these five interconnected carved panels have journeyed across the world and changed practices, understanding and international law on the protection and repatriation of stolen cultural treasures.