‘Moa’ is the Maori and Polynesian word for fowl, and refers to the giant ratites that once inhabited New Zealand.

Ratite relatives

New Zealand’s extinct Moa belong to a flightless group of birds called ratites. Ratites also include ostrich (Africa), emu (Australia), cassowary (Australia, New Guinea), rhea (South America), kiwi (New Zealand) and the long extinct elephant birds of Madagascar.

There were 10 species of moa. Eight species were found in the South Island of which 7 were found in Central Otago. They occupied a wide range of habitats from coastal dunes to alpine grasslands.

Moa were herbivorous, feeding mostly on leaves, grasses and berries, although the young were believed to forge on invertibrates. They were active during the day, as indicated by their small eye sockets. Moa were unique among birds as they had no wing bones at all. Other flightless birds, such as the kiwi, possess residual wing bones.

Most moa eggs were cream-coloured but upland moa had blue-green eggs. Intact eggs are very rare. The Otago Museum has one of the most important collections of moa eggs.

Giant moa (Dinornis robustus)

The giant moa were very tall, measuring up to three metres when their necks were fully extended. They weighed up to 250 kg and as a result developed legs bones of a similar size to those of a horse or cow to support this great weight. A giant moa egg was typically 24 cm in length and up to 18 cm at the widest point, with a capacity of 4 litres, equivalent to 60 hen’s eggs. Giant moa are believed to have lived throughout the North Island and eastern parts of the South Island, preferring lowland areas of shrubland and grassland.

Predators

The now extinct Haast's eagle (Harpagornis moorei) attacked and ate moa of sizes up to 150 kg. The now extinct Eyle’s harrier (Circus eylesi) preyed on moa chicks. Adzebill (Aptornis oditiformis and Aptornis oditiformis defossa) may have broken and eaten moa eggs.

The moa proved to be an extremely useful resource for early Maori, who hunted the great birds. Aside from their value as a food source, the moa provided bone for tools and the skin and feathers were used for clothing. Moa eggs were used as water carrying containers.

Extinction

The rate at which Maori hunted the moa far exceeded the rate at which the birds could reproduce. Combined with the destruction of their preferred habitats, this led to their extinction. Moa became scarce around 1500 AD and were extinct soon afterwards.