A war. A ransom. And a stunning recovery mission.

Five elaborately carved panels were buried in a New Zealand swamp to protect it from a war.

Then 150 years later, they’re acquired by a British collector before being sold to a Swiss-Bolivian collector in Geneva.

And their long journey home began when a kidnap ransom payment had to be made.

This is the remarkable story of the Motunui Epa.

Season Two is co-produced with CBC Podcasts.