The rule is not in place for the general exhibition. It was expected that women attending the tour on November 5 would be honest about their conditions. Maori regard pregnant, or menstruating, women as sacred and the policy was aimed at protecting them from the objects. If an object is tapu it is 'forbidden' and in Maori culture it is believed that if that tapu is not observed, something bad will happen. She said there was a belief that each taonga had its own wairua, or spirit, inside it. That rule is in place with consideration for both the safety of the taonga and the women.' 'There are items within that collection that have been used in sacred rituals.

Te Papa spokeswoman Jane Keig said the rule was imposed to respect Maori beliefs surrounding the Taonga Maori collection. 'It's an advisory requested by the iwi, but it's for people to make up their own minds,' he said. Mr Finlayson downplayed concerns, saying he did not get involved in the day-to-day running of Te Papa, but he understood the message was not an instruction.

Credit:NZPA/ Mike ScottA warning for pregnant or menstruating women to stay away from a Te Papa exhibit tour is just an advisory and women could decide to ignore it, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson says.Īn invitation for regional museum staff to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of some of Te Papa's collections on November 5 included the condition that 'wahine who are either hapu or mate wahine ' should not attend, the New Zealand Herald reported this morning. Te Papa Museum is shown in this file photo.

Hapu pregnant