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Story: Moa

Moa-bone necklaces

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Moa-bone necklaces

These necklaces made from moa bone were discovered in the famous site at Wairau Bar in Marlborough, which was first investigated in 1959–64. The style of these pendants is similar to that found throughout eastern Polynesia, and confirmed that the moa hunters were early Māori.

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Canterbury Museum

Reference: LIB5649

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Trevor H. Worthy, Moa – Moa and people, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11385/moa-bone-necklaces (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Trevor H. Worthy, published 1 March 2009.