The team working on Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway project has uncovered moa bones, in a discovery described by the project site archaeologist as being of great significance.
The bones of at least two individual smaller-sized moa have been found to date, with further smaller bird bone fragments still to be analysed.
The largest complete moa bones found so far include a tibia bone approximately 350mm long and two femur bones of varying lengths, both from the right side which indicates at least two moa. A pelvis bone, vertebra and other leg bones have also been uncovered.
The discovery was made on Tuesday, March 9, when crews were undertaking excavation work in a gully at the western end of the new highway alignment.