Simon Jean

Simon Jean's research focus is on Māori culture and the repatriation of human remains from France as a new postcolonial approach of museum practice.

I am a French student who is currently undertaking a PhD in Museum and Heritage Studies specialising in Māori culture and the repatriation of human remains from France. This PhD is entitled: “New Eyes on Curios: The Acquisition and Repatriation of Toi moko from France back to New Zealand as a new postcolonial approach of museum practice.” I am carrying out this PhD under the supervision of Conal McCarthy at Victoria University in Wellington. I completed a history degree from Rouen University in 2008 and a Masters in Heritage and Museum Studies from the same University in 2010.

To conduct this research, I had the opportunity to come to New Zealand several times in the last 9 years including a 13 month internship at Te Papa during which I first collaborated with the Museum and Heritage studies programme at Victoria University. My first internship was for a three month period in 2009, when I helped to build a better understanding of Te Papa’s repatriation programme Karanga Aotearoa by translating repatriation materials into French which provided key educational information for museums and institutions in France to better understand the programme’s aims, goals and outcomes. I was also present in Rouen during discussions about repatriating the toi moko from the Rouen Museum, leading to the first repatriation of Māori human remains from France in May 2011. I am pleased to say that I was a recipient of the France New Zealand Friendship Fund in 2012 which supports activities and initiatives to bring greater understanding between the two countries.

Through my research, I am continuing to build relationships between Te Papa and French institutions by highlighting current scientific research undertaken by the French pertaining to toi moko, as well as pursuing my PhD studies with a focus on better understanding the cultural values associated with toi moko and their contining connections with their communities of origin. I also have a passion to increase my knowledge and understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori.