Henry’s time in Sydney was both professional and deeply personal. He visited the Australian Museum, Chau Chak Wing Museum, and collection storage areas where Pacific artefacts rest, silent witnesses to histories of displacement and survival. A moment of particular significance was a ceremonial toki from Mangaia, included by Morgan as part of the conference talk. Found in the museum stores with no details or dates, this exquisite memento carried profound cultural weight, connecting the past to the present and underscoring the importance of knowing and preserving ancestral knowledge.

The journey culminated in an artists’ talk at the Blacktown Arts Centre, where Henry, Morgan, and Gina shared insights about cultural continuity, creative responsibility and Pacific heritage.

For Henry, the question of repatriation is complex. Many taonga were taken forcibly, yet he expresses gratitude that they still exist and can be studied today. “For now, I am grateful they live, even in foreign houses. We can still visit. We can still learn,” he reflects. While the desire to bring artefacts home remains, he acknowledges the practical realities: the islands lack the infrastructure to safely preserve fragile carvings and textiles.

This trip was also an occasion to celebrate collaboration and generosity. Henry and Gina extend heartfelt thanks to Paramatta Art Studio, the University of Sydney, Chau Chak Wing Museum, Australian Museum, Blacktown Arts Centre, The Ripples, and the Hogg family, whose hospitality, access and shared spaces made the experience possible.

Across oceans, Henry and Gina’s journey highlights that while taonga may reside abroad, the knowledge, memory and creative spirit they embody remain firmly anchored in the Cook Islands - alive, accessible and ready to inspire future generations.