DoC and the antique piano

The Department of Conservation followed the law to the letter about importation of ivory which culminated in ivory being stripped-off the keys of an antique piano. Dr Julian Paton and his family emigrated to New Zealand last September with the 1895 instrument but once it arrived in the country it was found that the correct paperwork hadn't been completed. Dr Paton says DoC threatened to destroy the heirloom if he didn't pay the costs of stripping the ivory.