Ambitious project blends Māori knowledge and cutting-edge science to restore taonga species in Aotearoa
KATHMANDU, JULY 9:
In a groundbreaking Indigenous-led initiative, the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre has partnered with Texas-based de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences and filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson to bring back the South Island Giant Moa, an extinct flightless bird that once roamed Aotearoa/New Zealand, according to the press release issued by the Colossal Biosciences.
The strategic partnership aims not only to resurrect the moa but also to advance ecological restoration and conservation tools rooted in Māori knowledge systems. The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, based at the University of Canterbury, will lead all aspects of the project, the release further noted.
"This is about more than science-it's about restoring balance, leadership, and legacy," said Professor Mike Stevens, Director of the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre. "The return of the moa would be a powerful expression of rangatiratanga (self-determination) and a chance to merge ecological and cultural aspirations in a shared vision."
Reviving a Lost Giant
The moa, extinct for nearly 600 years, was a vital part of New Zealand's ecosystem before disappearing due to overhunting and habitat loss following human settlement. The largest species, the South Island Giant Moa, stood up to 3.6 meters tall and weighed 230 kilograms.
Colossal Biosciences will deploy its end-to-end de-extinction pipeline, which includes genome sequencing, functional analysis, and reproductive technologies, to recreate the moa. The company has already begun sequencing the genomes of all nine moa species and plans to compare them with modern bird relatives such as emus and tinamous.
Māori-Led Model of Conservation
What sets this project apart is its foundation in mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge). Ngāi Tahu communities will guide the project from fieldwork to genetic research to habitat restoration. The initiative integrates science and Indigenous values in a model hailed as a potential global blueprint for ethical species restoration.
The collaboration will also include:
Ecological restoration of potential moa habitats guided by Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
Biobanking of genetic material from taonga (treasured) species
Educational programs to inspire Ngāi Tahu youth in STEM fields
Sustainable economic initiatives, including eco-tourism and carbon credits
Community-led expeditions to collect samples and protect biodiversity
"We are honoured to support this Māori-directed vision of science and stewardship," said Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal. "Our technology exists to serve bold ideas-and this is among the boldest."
A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
Sir Peter Jackson, who helped bring the parties together, described the project as "a mission to save some of our most precious taonga." He added, "With the right collaboration, extinct species like the moa or the huia can be brought back from the shadows."
Beth Shapiro, Colossal's Chief Science Officer and a pioneer in ancient DNA, called the Māori-led approach "a scientific and ecological opportunity like no other." The project's phased methodology will begin with ancient DNA recovery and move toward reproductive science, always grounded in Māori protocols and priorities.
Next-Gen Conservation for the Anthropocene
The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre and its partners see the moa project as part of a larger effort to build resilience against climate change and biodiversity loss. Collaborating scientist Dr. Paul Scofield of Canterbury Museum-home to the world's largest collection of moa bones-said the initiative could transform conservation biology and ecological understanding.
"This project may change not just how we conserve life on Earth-but who leads that conservation," said Scofield.
The initiative is supported by prominent investors including Robert Nelson of ARCH Venture Partners, who noted, "If the Māori people want the moa back, we should do everything in our power to support them."
