When The Moa Roamed Over Kauri

Northern Advocate, 13 March 1944, Page 6

When The Moa Roamed Over Kauri

A reminder that in days of long ago the stately moa roamed the district in the vicinity of Kauri is contained in a discovery of smooth pebbles on the farm of Mr J. Biggar. These pebbles, which have been shown to the “Advocate,” were found by Mr Biggar during ploughing operations. They had apparently remained in one spot for a great space of time, suggesting that they had formed the contents of the gizzard of a moa which had died there. The skeleton of the moa had long since mouldered into dust, but the pebbles, which form a very attractive collection, including stones suggesting among other things quartz, cairngorms, opals and stones of various colours —remained undisturbed until a modern ploughshare scattered them and Mr Biggar gathered the pebbles. Old residents of the Jordan Valley, Kauri and adjacent areas recall that in their childhood Maoris spoke of moa having been in the district at some distant date, this information having come down traditionally. Moa bones, the old residents said, had been found in soda springs in the district. The moa, it is well known, was a great traveller, and, as he had a liking for soda water, traces of him have frequently been found at or near soda springs. The Kauri pebbles will revive interest in speculation as to the haunts and habits of New Zealand's giant bird, long since extinct.