North Island Giant Moa

The second largest moa species

This moa species inhabited bush, grass, and dune lands, as well as forests on New Zealand’s North Island. The North Island giant moa is considered the second largest moa species. The largest species is the South Island giant moa, which was endemic to New Zealand’s South Island.

Originally, the family Dinornithidae was thought to include three moa species. This assumption was based on the belief that male and female birds were different species due to significant differences in their size and weight. It was therefore believed that male North Island giant moas constituted their own species and were subsequently classified as Dinornis struthoides.

North Island Giant Moa – Fact Sheet

Alternative name	large bush moa, Kuranui
Scientific name	Dinornis novaezealandiae, Dinornis struthoides
Original range	North Island of New Zealand
Time of extinction	14th or 15th century
Causes of extinction	hunting

Remains all originate from female animals

Studies have shown that all currently known remains of the North Island giant moa originate from female animals. These bones were primarily found in swamps or bog areas. Therefore, it is also assumed that the females were responsible for foraging. The males, on the other hand, likely guarded the eggs.

North Island giant moa females weighed between 76 and 242 kilograms and, when standing upright, reached a back height of between 120 and 190 centimeters. In contrast, the males had a back height of only 90 to 120 centimeters and weighed between 34 and 85 kilograms.

In comparison, the female South Island giant moas reached a back height of up to 350 centimeters, and the males up to 240 centimeters.

With the settlement of New Zealand, the moas became extinct

At the end of the 13th century, Polynesians settled in New Zealand and caused the disappearance of these flightless birds through hunting within one or two centuries. This thesis is also supported by a 2014 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Additionally, the first century after the arrival of the Polynesians on the island is referred to as the “Moa-Hunter Period”. For the people, the moa was easy prey. After the extinction of the birds, the Maori turned to obtaining their food through fishing and cultivating crops.