A rare moa egg is coming home to New Zealand

A rare egg of the moa — the giant, extinct flightless bird that once strode New Zealand — is being repatriated to Aotearoa. The return was announced in Christchurch at the opening of an international meeting of ancient-bird experts, where it was welcomed with a powhiri, a formal Maori welcome. Canterbury Museum's Dr Paul Scofield, a collaborating scientist on the moa programme, said the egg has far greater scientific and cultural value at home than it could ever have in a private collection overseas, and that its homecoming will create new research opportunities while ensuring the taonga — the treasure — is cared for in the land, and by the people, to which it belongs. The work runs in partnership with the Ngai Tahu Research Centre, with every result returned to New Zealand.

Mechanism: institutional program