When the first humans arrived in Aotearoa, they brought with them a few animal friends: the kiore (Pacific rat) and the now extinct kurī (Polynesian dog).
While the ecological impact of the kiore has been documented relatively well, we're not yet sure what kind of damage the kurī did.
A new study by researchers at the University of Otago has looked at their potential impacts on our biodiversity. Karyn speaks to one of them, Dr Nic Rawlence.
Dr Karen Greig, Co-Director of the Southern Pacific Archaeological Research unit and Dr Nic Rawlence, Director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory in the Department of Zoology Photo: supplied
