Moa footprints produced from actual scans of a moa footprint found south of Caroline Bay at Pareora. - Photo Roselyn Fauth

"It was near this point in 1889 that bones of the moa species Anomalopteryx Didiformis were discovered during quarrying operations. The bones could be as old as 2.4 million years and maybe the oldest yet found in NA. The species of moa was relatively small at around 1 metre in height and is generally thought to have occurred in upload areas or at lower altitudes during the ice ages." - Photo Roselyn Fauth

Moa were large, plant-eating birds that once roamed the entirety of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Kai such as tuna (eel) and inaka (whitebait) patete (fish), and kōareare (the edible rhizome of raupō) were abundant in the area.

Mahika kai literally means 'to work the food' and relates to the traditional value of food resources and their ecosystems, as well as the practices involved in producing, procuring, and protecting these resources. LEFT Tuna (eel) on display at the South Canterbury Museum. RIGHT Mōkihi display at Te Ana Ngāi Tahu Māori Rock Art Centre.

Caroline Bay was part of the seasonal food gathering journey for local Māori, and there are over 500 rock art images in South Canterbury created by their ancestors. Some of these could depict waka and mokahi used to journey the sea and rivers.

Modern 3D Scanning and Printing Technology Revives Prehistoric Artwork

Children playing at a local playground could be able to see and feel footprints of prehistoric birds. Using 3D scanning and printing technology, volunteers have recreated the footprints of a moa, an extinct bird native to New Zealand, to add a playful, educational and historical element to the playground.

The idea to include footprints in the playground came from a desire to add local ecology and story sharing to the space. After consulting with the South Canterbury Museum and seeing an actual moa footprint and toe bone found in the area, the team decided to try and replicate the footprints using 3D printing technology.

A 3D scan had been made available to 3D print a replica of the moa footprints found in Pareora, not too far south from the playground. This was printed by father and son duo John Rushton (Architect and CPlay volunteer) and Jack Rushton. The resulting tool is ready to test by pressing into a wet concrete trail.

Pareora man Chris Sargent discovered moa foot prints and bones after a storm eroded a beach in 2022. Canterbury Museum senior curator of natural history, Dr. Paul Scofield, confirmed that the moa footprints were Canterbury's first and the second for the South Island, and believes they belong to a heavy-footed moa or a giant moa from the Holocene period. The discovery of the moa bones and footprints in the same place suggests that the birds may have possibly got stuck in the mud and died there. The original bones, footprints, and a cast are stored at the South Canterbury Museum archive. A digital 3D file was produced by the South Canterbury and Canterbury Museums and made available online.

The use of 3D scanning and printing technology to recreate ancient moa footprints is an innovative way to add historical and educational value to modern-day design. By incorporating the footprints into the local playground, children can have the opportunity to learn about prehistoric birds and the natural history of the area. The footprint project for CPlay is a testament to the possibilities of combining technology and creativity to add interest and value to public spaces.

It took 3 days to 3D print the moa footprints.

"This was a fun project to be involved in, and I look forward to seeing how people could use to have fun, and as an educational tool at the playgrounds." Jack Rushton (son of CPlay volunteer John Rushton) 

The 3D printing process used PLA (Polyactic Acid) plastic, which is derived from plant products rather than petroleum and is therefore considered more environmentally friendly. However, on an individual level, the 3D prints cannot be easily recycled or reused. PLA can be heated and melted into a pool, which can then harden and be cut into various objects, such as chopping boards or coasters. On a commercial level, PLA can be composted within 12 weeks or recycled to create PLA for a different use.

Above, testing the 3D print outs of the bird feet in the concrete pad for the ship. This is going to be covered in a retaining wall and pour and play rubber, so we could try different techniques to see which foot prints looked the best, and were the most practical. We found we needed a lubricant to help the print outs release from the concrete. We needed to wash them between each stamp. And the optimum time to press into the concrete was 4 hours after the pour on a broom finish rather than smooth. We used a hammer to gently tap and vibrate the mould, the plastic moa print was brittle, so we added some wood to give it strength. We also need to consider that they are not a tripping hazzard and impractical maintenance. So we tried a range of depths to balance practicality and most visually interesting.

The first concrete path was poured mid June 2023. We intend to place these prints in the section near the Tuna mound to make it look like naughty birds have walked over the wet concrete paths. 

Planning the locations

Moa

Moa: The Remarkable Avian Giants of Aotearoa New Zealand

Moa, the colossal herbivorous birds that once roamed the entirety of Aotearoa New Zealand, have left an indelible mark on the annals of natural history. Their existence was tragically cut short between 1400 and 1500 AD, rendering them extinct. Presently, the scientific community has documented nine distinct moa species, spread across six genera and three families. The astonishing diversity in moa shapes and sizes can be attributed to the unique geological history of New Zealand, marked by glaciations, tectonic shifts, sexual dimorphism, and variations in habitat, climate, and diet.

The inherent variability of moa has engendered debates in species identification, a legacy dating back to the 1840s when European scientists first encountered moa remains. Initial estimates of moa species once ballooned to over twenty, and over time, they have been christened with no fewer than 64 different scientific names.

Unraveling the intricate tapestry of moa evolution remains a formidable challenge, given that most of our knowledge derives from specimens dating back less than 10,000 years. This leaves us in the dark about 99.9% of their evolutionary journey spanning 60 million years. Fortunately, DNA technology has unveiled a remarkable revelation: all currently described moa species share a common ancestor who made New Zealand their home around 3.5 million years ago. Numerous glaciations punctuated this epoch, leading to bottlenecks and eventual species diversification. During periods of lowered sea levels caused by glaciations, land bridges connected New Zealand's islands, facilitating moa dispersion and migration throughout the country.

New Zealand boasts the Haast's Eagle (Hieraaetus moorei), a colossal raptor, as one of its most iconic extinct species. This apex predator, the largest known eagle, displayed a remarkable scavenging behavior more akin to vultures. While most eagles typically hunt prey smaller than themselves, the Haast's Eagle, in its prime, fearlessly targeted moa, which could tip the scales at over 200 kg—more than 13 times their own body weight.

In the vicinity of Centennial Park, Timaru, the fossilized remnants of Anomalopteryx Didiformis, a relatively diminutive moa species standing at approximately one meter in height, were unearthed in 1889 during quarrying operations. These ancient bones, possibly dating back 2.4 million years, represent some of the oldest moa remains ever discovered. This particular species likely inhabited upland areas or lower altitudes during the ice ages.

Centennial Park's humble tracks once served as railways, tasked with transporting rock from quarries to the coast for the development of Timaru's port and coastal erosion control. It was on this terrain that the oldest-known moa bones were uncovered, a testament to the park's rich geological history. Lava once surged through this land, now meeting the sea, originating from Mount Horrible approximately two million years ago.

The Timaru Harbour Board once held dominion over much of Centennial Park's terrain, utilizing it as a quarry in the late 1800s to supply harbor-protection rock for the Port of Timaru's expansion. Several quarries were in operation, with one situated at the Gleniti end of the reserve and others scattered throughout the gully, all linked to a railway that led from Otipua Rd. The last of these railway lines was disassembled in late 1959. It was during the rock removal for the construction of the North Mole by Palliser and Co. that the age-old moa bones made their appearance. The clay discovered beneath the bones has been identified as dating from the Pliocene Age, an epoch spanning 2 to 7 million years in the past. in London

"It was near this point in 1889 that bones of the moa species Anomalopteryx Didiformis were discovered during quarrying operations. The bones could be as old as 2.4 million years and maybe the oldest yet found in NA. The species of moa was relatively small at around 1 metre in height and is generally thought to have occurred in upload areas or at lower altitudes during the ice ages."

Moa Bones Unearthed in Mungati, Moa Valley

In addition to Timaru, Moa bones were found in Mungati, Moa Valley. They date back to the upper Miocene epoch, revealing the ancient history of these birds.

Further findings in Timaru include a Moa leg bone, discovered beneath St. Mary's Church, around twelve feet below ground. It's a small-sized bone, typical of Moa finds in soft clay.

The Valley of the Moa in Craigmore features rock art dating back over 500 years, possibly depicting Moas, eagles, dogs, and people, reflecting life in ancient New Zealand.

The limestone in the region has a fascinating geological history, formed from seafloor deposits and exposed over time, used for various purposes like construction and fertilizer. Old limestone kilns are still visible in places like Pareora and Kakanui.

O Wahi Moa, Valley of the Moa, Craigmore. Photos by Roselyn Fauth

The plaque at this rock art site, says they could have been created over 500 years ago. It's fascinating to imagine what life could have been like here in NZ. Forests, Moa roaming this valley... the Haast Eagle swooping above. Maybe Māori were planting and harvesting Te Kouka Cabbage Tree for food and fiber, lighting fires to cook on and stay warm. Maybe using the charcoal and animal fats to make their pigment and create the legacy we can see today. Some say they look like giant moas, eagles, dogs and people.