In Honoured Memory [Video]

For decades the New Zealand Police Museum has held a collection of human remains, acquired up until 1957 to help train investigators. Now preparations are under way for their burial as part of a three-year project to release them in a respectful way – and, where possible, return them to their families. New Zealand Police has created a video about this process which can be viewed here.

“New Zealand leads the way in repatriating human remains from overseas with great dignity and respect,” says museum director Rowan Carroll. “It’s time Police did the same for the 37 individuals we’ve had in our care.”  

The collection comprises skeletal remains of 20 aborted foetuses; four infanticide victims; five identified adult murder victims; one identified adult accident victim; and seven unidentified adults, cause of death unknown. In three cases, Rowan’s research has established living next-of-kin who are being consulted about the next steps. Some of the remains were collected for their forensic interest. Others were bought from medical suppliers.

"The museum was established as a teaching museum in 1908, when seeing and handling physical exhibits was the best way to learn,” says Rowan. “This was superceded as new techniques such as three-dimensional models and imagery developed. The collection was taken off internal display in the 1990s and has been in storage at the museum ever since.”

Rowan says the repatriation is “simply the right thing to do”. “These people were victims, of a crime or an accident. It’s not necessary, or ethical, for us to continue to retain samples from these victims.”

“Three of the six identified people have living next-of-kin that we know of and we’re in touch with them so they can decide how best to give their relative a dignified memorial,” she says. In the three cases of identified victims with no known next-of-kin, cremated remains will be interred in their existing grave. In each case the grave is unmarked and Police will install a memorial plaque. The remains of the unidentified adults have been cremated and will be buried together at Makara Cemetery, near Wellington. The infants have been cremated and will be buried together in the children’s section at Makara. Plaques will be installed.

Police will arrange non-denominational ceremonies for those with no identified next-of-kin. These will be open to the public.