Moa bones returned to maunga

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. The bones were taken to Te Manawa 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.

Sampling for radiometric dating and isotopic and ancient genetic analysis took place across three days in December, and was undertaken by palaeobiologist Dr Richard Holdaway from the University of Canterbury.

The sampling process included photographing and 3D scanning the bones for replication and lodgement of replicas at Te Papa and Te Manawa. Sediment around the bones was sampled for dating and for possible evidence of the vegetation at the site when the birds died. Analysis of the samples at the Luminescence Dating Facility at Victoria University of Wellington has provided a minimum age of 180,000 year, with a possible age of 345,000 years.

The bones were identified by Holdaway in video consultation with Alan Tennyson, Te Papa vertebrates curator. 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 Ranges in a private ceremony by iwi.

Working alongside Holdaway during the testing was Te Manawa head of collections and exhibitions Jeff Fox and Te Ahu a Turanga kaitiaki Terry Hapi, who was entrusted by iwi with 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 wheua moa, explain the process to them and reassure them they would soon be returned to the breast of Papatu¯a¯nuku back on the Ruahine maunga.”

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.

“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 the many analyses are expected to be available later this year.