Motorway moa bones treated with respect
Bones of two species of moa and of other large flightless birds unearthed in the Ruahine Ranges by the team working on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu¯ Tararua Highway have been sampled for analysis to determine their age and relationships.
The bones were discovered during excavation work on the western end of the highway alignment in March 2021. After the discovery, the bones were taken to Te Manawa Museum in Palmerston North for safekeeping while a decision was made about their future.
Te Ahu a Turanga’s iwi partners, Rangita¯ne o Manawatu¯, Rangita¯ne o Tamaki nui-a-Rua, Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Ta¯maki nui-a-Rua, Te Runanga o Raukawa (Nga¯ ti Raukawa ki te Tonga and Nga¯ Kaitiaki o¯ Nga¯ti Kauwhata), agreed for the bones to be sampled, with requirements for appropriate tikanga to be observed and for their return to the maunga after sampling.
The sampling for radiometric dating and isotopic and ancient genetic analysis took place across three days in December 2021, and was undertaken by palaeobiologist Dr Richard Holdaway, an adjunct professor at the University of Canterbury.
The sampling processs included photographing and 3D scanning the bones for replication and lodgement of replicas at Te Papa Tongarewa and Te Manawa. Previously, the sediments around, below and above the bones had been sampled for dating and for possible evidence of the vegetation at the site when the birds died.
Analysis of sediment samples at the Luminescence Dating Facility at Victoria University of Wellington has already provided a minimum age of 180,000 years for the bones, with a possible age of 345,000 years suggested by the nature of the sediment around the bones.
The bones were identified by Dr Holdaway with video consultation with Alan Tennyson, Curator of Vertebrates at Te Papa Tongarewa. The extreme age of the wellpreserved bones makes them one of the most significant discoveries of such fauna in New Zealand.
Following the sampling, the bones were returned to the Ruahine Maunga in a private ceremony conducted by iwi.
Working alongside Dr Holdaway during the testing was Te Manawa Head of Collections and Exhibitions Jeff Fox and Te Ahu a Turanga kaitiaki Terry Hapi.
Mr Hapi was entrusted by iwi with the responsibilty of ensuring appropriate tikanga was observed throughout the sampling and repatriation process.
“My role was to be the kaitiaki (protector) of the bones, which included having daily karakia to acknowledge the whenua moa, explain
the process to them and reassure them that they would soon be returned to the breast of Papatu¯a¯nuku back on the Ruahine maunga.”
Mr Hapi made sure everyone who handled the bones cleansed their hands to ensure tapu was lifted at the end of each testing day, and provided crucial insight and advice during the testing process.
“One of our kaumatua explained to us that the whenua (earth) on the bones is tapu. So while cleaning the bones, we gathered up all of the dirt and that too was returned to the maunga.”
Results from analyses are expected to be available this year.
The Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu¯ Tararua Highway is expected to be completed in December 2024.