The Extraordinary Moa and its Eggs
This article explores the remarkable story of New Zealand’s extinct moa through its giant but fragile eggs. From the famous Kaikōura egg buried alongside a Māori skeleton to scattered fragments in caves and middens, moa eggs reveal a world of careful nesting, male incubation, and deep cultural significance. With low reproductive rates and no defences against introduced species, moas vanished within centuries of human arrival. Today, their eggs stand as poignant symbols of lost abundance and the fragility of island life.