Our Moa….

Because the moa has historic significance for our sense of geographical place (and connectedness), we embark on this journey with New Zealand poet Allen Curnow’s words ringing in our ears. …. – “some child, born in a marvellous year, will learn the trick of standing upright here”…

The skeleton of the moa on iron crutches

Broods over no great waste; a private swamp

Was where this tree grew feathers once, that hatches

Its dusty clutch, and guards them from the damp.

Interesting failure to adapt on islands,

Taller but not more fallen than I, who come

Bone to his bone, peculiarly New Zealand's.

The eyes of students flicker round this tomb

Under the skylights, wonder at the huge egg

Found in a thousand pieces, pieced together

But with less patience than the bones that dug

In time deep shelter against the ocean weather:

Not I, some child, born in a marvellous year,

Will learn the trick of standing upright here. 

Allen Curnow.

For us the moa is a powerful image of the future. We want our tamariki to know who they are, where they come from, to stand tall and be confident and to be young people who actively contribute to our society.