Story: Moa

Adzes (1st of 2)

Adzes

These argillite adzes and greywacke implements were found by Julius Haast at a large moa-hunter site at the mouth of the Rakaia River in 1869. Partly on the basis of these finds, Haast argued that the moa hunters were a distinct Palaeolithic people who settled in New Zealand before Māori. It is now thought that those who hunted moa were early Māori who took advantage of the birds’ ready availability and killed them primarily for food.

Using this item

Canterbury Museum
Reference: E199.1010 (top); E164.748 (middle); E142.166 (bottom)

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, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/11384/adzes (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Trevor H. Worthy, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015