Since the late 19th century, museums in New Zealand have intermittently painted Maori wood sculpture matt red in the mistaken belief that they were continuing a tradition of redcolored carving pre-dating the arrival of the European in New Zealand. Conservation work at Auckland Museum has restored some of these back to their original surfaces. Described are the history of the carvings under discussion, the conservation carried out, and some of the ramifications of the results achieved. See also AATA 21-1638 for related paper.