Moa

A DigitalNZ Story by Courtney Johnston

The giant bird that lives on in our imaginations and our museums.

Image: Moa and corals

Moa and corals

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Black and white photograph of Moa footprints

Black and white photograph of Moa footprints

Te Manawa

Image: Photographer unknown :Moa. [Merinos. 1870s?]

Photographer unknown :Moa. [Merinos. 1870s?]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Moa, Natural History Museum, London

Moa, Natural History Museum, London

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: New Zealand Birds : Megalapteryx (Moa) species

New Zealand Birds : Megalapteryx (Moa) species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: The Moa of New Zealand

The Moa of New Zealand

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Wellington Museum, showing the Moa (feathered)

Wellington Museum, showing the Moa (feathered)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa bone and skin

Moa bone and skin

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Maori man and moa

Maori man and moa

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Advertisement for Moa polish

Advertisement for Moa polish

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: The Moa (Dinornis Robustus)

The Moa (Dinornis Robustus)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Skeleton of moa, Christchurch.

Skeleton of moa, Christchurch.

University of Otago

Image: Dinornis (Moa) skeleton

Dinornis (Moa) skeleton

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa skull

Moa skull

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa skeleton

Moa skeleton

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa, Arthurs Pass

Moa, Arthurs Pass

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Moa skeletons in the Canterbury Museum, 1867

Moa skeletons in the Canterbury Museum, 1867

Auckland Libraries

Image: Refers to Mr W.B. Mantell’s moa bone discoveries.

Refers to Mr W.B. Mantell’s moa bone discoveries.

University of Otago

Image: Buchanan, John, 1818-1898 :[Neck of moa]. Lithograph, 1872.

Buchanan, John, 1818-1898 :[Neck of moa]. Lithograph, 1872.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Moa reconstructions at the 1924 Wembley exhibition, London

Moa reconstructions at the 1924 Wembley exhibition, London

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Creator unknown : Photograph of moa skeletons, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch

Creator unknown : Photograph of moa skeletons, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Photomontage of seaplane and moa over Auckland

Photomontage of seaplane and moa over Auckland

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Looking WSW over Moa Swamp centre top, Pyramid ... (PV50-100/72)

Looking WSW over Moa Swamp centre top, Pyramid ... (PV50-100/72)

V.C. Browne & Son

Image: Looking SW along Pyramid Valley Rd. and over Py... (PV50-100/70)

Looking SW along Pyramid Valley Rd. and over Py... (PV50-100/70)

V.C. Browne & Son

Image: The Author Contemplating the Relics of a Moa-hunters' Feast at Waitaki

The Author Contemplating the Relics of a Moa-hunters' Feast at Waitaki

Victoria University of Wellington

Image: [Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Moa in a swamp. [1875-1900]

[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Moa in a swamp. [1875-1900]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant 1820-1895 :A moa in a fix [1848]

Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant 1820-1895 :A moa in a fix [1848]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sebley (Photographer):Photograph of a feathered Moa at Wellington Museum

Sebley (Photographer):Photograph of a feathered Moa at Wellington Museum

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Kehoe, E L : Mock moa hunt - Photograph taken by Guy

Kehoe, E L : Mock moa hunt - Photograph taken by Guy

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Plentiful supply of moa bones discovered near Wanganui: work of unearthing the relics for museum purposes

Plentiful supply of moa bones discovered near Wanganui: work of unearthing the relics for museum purposes

Auckland Libraries