Antique Piano’s Ivory Keys Stripped off Due to Ivory Ban

Authorities in New Zealand have ordered the removal of the ivory key tops of a 123-year-old piano because of the country’s ivory trade ban. The piano belonged to Julian Paton, a British professor from the University of Auckland. Paton brought the piano with him during his family’s migration to New Zealand from England last November. The professor purchased the heirloom as a birthday present for his wife over 30 years ago. Upon the family’s arrival in New Zealand, the piano was confiscated because Paton had no export permit for it, thus violating the ivory trade ban. The antique piano should have qualified for an exemption from the ban as it was created before 1914 when ivory trade laws did not exist. Unfortunately, Paton was not aware that a permit is needed to bring his piano to another country. While he supports the ban, the professor was disheartened when New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DoC) decided to remove the ivory key tops of his piano. Paton appealed to save the piano but to no avail. Although the DoC and its minister Eugenie Sage sympathized with Paton, they remained steadfast with their decision and still proceeded with the ruling last July. The DoC even mandated the professor to shoulder the costs of the removal of the key tops. On a different note, New Zealand has become active in the cause against the ivory trade. In 2014, the New Zealand-based auction site Trade Me prohibited ivory sale. The environmental organization Jane Goodall Institute is also encouraging people to support a petition to completely ban the trade of ivory in the country.