This petition was submitted during the 2017–2019 Conservative government

Rejected petition Return the Hoa Hakananai'a to the people of Easter Island.

This revered statue was removed by a British captain in 1868 and looks out of place in the British Museum. It is believed by the Rapa Nui people to emit a "mana" spiritual force.

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Many artefacts acquired from other countries are well looked after and conserved by our museums and should remain. However, the Hoa Hakananai'a cannot be well displayed in a museum however much space is given over to it. The proper place to see the Moai is on Easter Island where they present a stunning backdrop to the surrounding Pacific ocean These unique statues are not neglected and are open to tourists to walk among them and marvel, and they will! I believe that the Hoa Hakananai'a should be returned to the Rapa Nui as soon as possible. Please help this to happen for this tiny nation of guardians.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

The repatriation of an item from the collection of the British Museum is a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum, not the UK Government or Parliament.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.