Overview
Moa were extraordinary, giant birds unique to New Zealand/Aotearoa. They were the tallest birds ever known - reaching up to 3 metres - but not all of them were so big. Currently nine species are recognised, from the largest giant moa to smaller species the size of a large dog. The different moa species occupied different ecological niches, from alpine areas to the coast. Females of some species were twice as big as the males.
Moa are ratites birds, so are related to species such as kiwi, ostriches, emus and cassowaries. How the ancestors of moa arrived in New Zealand is hotly debated - some scientists think that they rafted here as the giant southern super-continent Gondwana broke up - others think that their ancestors flew here.
The first Polynesian settlers must have been amazed to find these giant birds throughout the country and moa soon became a key food - unfortunately moa were slow to reproduce and the numbers taken were unsustainable. Extinction of all moa species followed soon after humans arrived - all were probably gone by about 1400 A.D.