Petition · past parliament
Return the Hoa Hakananai'a to the people of Easter Island.
Rejected
12 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
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.
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
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.
Timeline
| 1 Dec 2018 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 3 Dec 2018 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
12
Status
Rejected
Rejected
3 Dec 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.