The Mighty Moa

Television (Full Length) – 1998

This documentary tells the story of the mighty moa, and asks if it really is extinct. The giant, flightless bird could stretch up to three metres tall, and weighed up to 275 kilograms. In the 19th century the bird was rediscovered by English naturalist Richard Owen, who concluded from bone evidence that the moa existed (leading to ‘moa mania' bone trade). Also covered is the ignition of hope that moa may still be alive after takahē (thought to be as dead as the dodo) were discovered in Fiordland in 1948, and the digging up bird skeletons and remains of moa hunter culture in South Island swamps.

The Conservation Department has abandoned any further investigation into claims by three trampers that they saw and photographed a live moa in the Craigeburn Range area ...Department spokesman Ken Hughey cited inconsistencies in the interviews ... Dr Hughey also said the department was concerned the trio's full sequence of negatives had not been made available for analysis, despite a formal request to Mr [Paddy] Freaney.
– NZPA article, The Dominion, 2 February 1993, page 3