Police say a rare and significant taonga stolen from a Masterton museum has been handed in.
The medal was on loan from the family of Hoani Paraone Tunuiarangi, a Wairarapa chief and Volunteer Force captain.
He was gifted it when he travelled to England for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897.
The medal was taken from a cabinet at the Aratoi museum in Wairarapa and handed in there about 10.30am today, police said.
The person who returned it was not who police believe took it, acccording to CCTV footage, and inquiries would continue to identify him.
