The presence of human remains in museums and their restitution to their country of origin raise scientific but also ethical and cultural issues. Unable to agree upon the nature of these remains, researchers and native communities put forward their own beliefs based on colonial history, the notion of scientific universality or the respect for traditions. France's decision from 2010 to comply with the Maori community's claims and hand back the Toi moko stored in its national museums, thereby accepting to deprive their collections of these pieces, is still a hot topic under debate among scientific and political circles who see it as an open door leading to a real loss of its "human" treasures.