What are the Easter Island statues?
 
Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui) is the world's most remote inhabited island, found in the southern Pacific Ocean. Since its 'discovery' nearly three centuries ago by the Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen, Westerners have been fascinated by the huge stone statues, known as 'moai', found around the island.
 
In general moai form the upper part of a male body, standing upright and facing forward, with arms held tightly at the sides. Some also had a cylindrical head-dress called a 'pukao'. It is thought that moai represent the spirits of illustrious ancestors such as chiefs and leaders, although the statues are not portrait sculptures. Many moai are found on the sacred ceremonial areas of the island known as 'ahu'.
 
The size of the statues varies, the average about 4 metres tall and 12 tonnes. The largest discovered to date, still in the quarry, is at least 20 metres tall and estimated to be over 150 tonnes! Given their huge size and weight, there's much debate as to how the moai were carved and transported and how the pukao was placed on the head.
 
How many moai are there?
 
Archaeologists think that about 1000 moai were produced in total over a period of 800-1300 years on Easter Island. Today they can be found in a variety of states including partially carved, laid flat (some thought to be positioned that way while in transit to the ahu, others fallen down over time), and partly buried, probably due to the accumulation of erosion material around the base of the statue. In some cases up to 10 metres of the statue is actually underground with only the head poking through.
 
Only a very small number, about 12, have ever been removed from the island - size and weight of the statues and the remoteness of Easter Island probably contributed to this fact. However, the Otago Museum is proud to house the only moai in New Zealand on display to visitors. 
 
You can take this rare opportunity to see the moai from Easter Island, outside the Pacific Culture Galleries.