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Kōrero: Moa

Upland moa in correct stance

Image
Upland moa in correct stance

It is now believed that moa did not carry their head high, but at about the same height as their back. They were long rather than tall, with a foreback that sloped downwards and a relatively short neck. Moa often needed to travel in heavily bushed areas, where an upright neck and head would have been an impediment.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: MA_B.017875

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Trevor H. Worthy, Moa – Appearance and breeding, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/11380/upland-moa-in-correct-stance (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Trevor H. Worthy, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.