It has been reported that the French Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to return 16 mummified Maori warrior heads to New Zealand.

The Guardian has reported that the tattooed human artifacts, which had been kept in the National History Museum in Paris for 135 years, will be sent to New Zealand without delay.

The British newspaper quoted French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand as saying in support of the repatriation legislation, "You do not build a culture on trafficking."

The legislation crossed party lines among French lawmakers.

Michele Tabarot, head of the commission for cultural affairs at the national assembly, said, "These remains have awaited a dignified burial, in accordance with Maori rights, for too long." (With Inputs from Agencies)