Skip to Content

In 1912 four moa footprints were found close to the Fitzroy Street section of the river. Their discovery was one of the first of its kind in New Zealand.

They were found by Henry Cole (believed to be seated at left) after a flood had washed away the bank exposing the footprints in a bed of stiff blue clay, called papa. Initially the prints were cut out of the papa. While these no longer exist plaster casts were also made and these are held by Te Manawa, the museum of Palmerston North.

The moa in question was probably a large species called Dinornis novaezelandiae. The footprints found measured 45.5cm wide and just over 30cm from the tip of its middle toe to its heel. Its stride was 76 cm.

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
Te Manawa 74-61-1
Date
1912
Digitisation ID
2021P_TeManawa74-61-1_035419
Format
Sepia print
Held In
Other

Related items

"Piece of Moa Bone Discovered"
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]

Creation

Created By
Place
Manawatū riverbank

Object rights

Taxonomy

Tags
moa,
Community Tags
artifacts,
manawatu river,
museum exhibits,
native birds,
new zealand birds,
papa,

Report a problem

Related items

"Piece of Moa Bone Discovered"
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]
“Ihakara’s Big Bird” [Moa Bones]