MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

TE MOA. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

It is barely a century since the first leg bone of the Moa was sent to Professor Owen of London. With marvellous accuracy from that alone, he reconstructed the giant bird higher than the ceiling of our old style 11 foot 6 inch rooms. So concerned were his relations with the question of his deranged intellect, which they attributed to over study that they besought the press and the publishers ■•not to print the results of his madness."

The original Maori name was Kuranui (kura red. nui great) from the red feathers on its sides. On the arrival of Toi's canoe about A.D. 1150 the bird was first seen by a Chief, after whom it was named “Manti nui a Ruakapanga” (his great bird).

When seen at close range by Maoris and their dogs the birds, confident of their unrivalled strength, showed no sign of fear, and calmly continued to feed on the Tawa. Hinau, or Matai berries within 14ft of the ground. Maori legends stated that the Moa lived mainly in the swamps and the river sides, taking shelter in the caves during winter. This seemed to be proved by the discovery of numerous bones in those localities. The name

"Moa" is given to fowls in Polynesia, and to the Cassowary in New Guinea. "Manuwhakatau” (superior to all), and “Manu pouturu" (bird on stilts) were other names for the Moa. The Moa is now classified into 5 genera of 22 species ranging from 2 feet 6 inches to 15 feet in height. Tlie flesh and the eggs larger than a size 7U hat, wore a great delicacy to tlie Maori, whose ingenuity was taxed to the utmost in coping with its great strength when being captured by snares or.’in hidden ]jits.