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This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 18 February 2025. Extinct order of birds This article is about the extinct New Zealand birds known as moa. For other uses, see Moa (disambiguation). Moa Temporal range: Miocene – Holocene, 17–0.0006 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N North Island giant moa skeleton Scientific classification Domain ...
The best-known and most extensively studied Archaic site is at Wairau Bar in the South Island. [25] The site is similar to eastern Polynesian nucleated villages and is the only New Zealand archaeological site containing the bones of people who were born elsewhere.
The South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus) is an extinct species of moa in the genus Dinornis, known in Māori by the name moa nunui. [2] It was one of the tallest-known bird species to walk the Earth, exceeded in weight only by the heavier but shorter extinct elephant bird of Madagascar .
The best-known and most extensively studied Archaic site, at Wairau Bar in the South Island, [49] shows evidence of occupation from early-13th century to the early-15th century. [50] It is the only known New Zealand archaeological site containing the bones of people who were born elsewhere. [50] Model of a pā (hillfort) built on a headland.
Māori have long been resident in Kaikōura and archaeological evidence of moa bones indicates that they hunted moa there. After the moa numbers declined, Kaikōura was still an attractive place to live because of its abundance of sea food. The Ngāi Tahu iwi have been resident in the Kaikōura area since at least 1670. [4]
Notably, an ancient midden containing moa bone has been found. [5] Captain Cook anchored off Moturua in 1769. French explorer Marion Du Fresne and his crew set up temporary camp on the island in 1772. [6] In World War II, the Royal New Zealand Navy operated a mine control station in Army Bay of Moturua.
Most recent bones in Ototara, North Otago were dated to 1464–1637 CE, making this a contender for last surviving moa species. [33] The main cause of extinction was overhunting. Remains are widespread in middens, along with specialised tools used to cut up carcasses and to work bones into tools. Moa chicks may have also been eaten by ...
Bones from all five moa species located in the upper South Island were found. As well as the remains of numerous butchered moa, seals , porpoises , the extinct Haast's eagle , Eyles' harrier , New Zealand swan and New Zealand raven , kurī (Maori dogs), tuatara , kiore , shellfish such as pipi , pāua , cockles , and marine bones from eels ...