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Kōrero: West Coast places

Bird skeleton, Ōpārara caves

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Bird skeleton, Ōpārara caves

Because the Ōpārara cave system has so many openings, large birds have wandered in, perhaps to shelter, or have fallen in. The caves have acted as a graveyard, and contain the skeletons of moa and other animals, some of which became extinct soon after the arrival of humans in New Zealand. This is the skeleton of a little bush moa.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by Simon Nathan

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Simon Nathan, West Coast places – Karamea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/20952/bird-skeleton-oparara-caves (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Simon Nathan, i tāngia i te 3 March 2009.