14 Sep 2021

Moa bones stolen from Southland museum

4:59 pm on 14 September 2021

Police in Southland are calling for information on moa bones taken from a flood damaged campsite near Milford Sound.

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Gunn's Camp has been closed since February 2020 because of flooding damage. Photo: Gunn's Camp

Gunn's Camp is a historic camp and museum on Hollyford Road about 40km from Milford Sound.

Heavy-footed moa. Image from 'Extinct Birds of New Zealand' by Alan Tennyson and Paul Martinson.

Heavy-footed moa. Image from 'Extinct Birds of New Zealand' by Alan Tennyson and Paul Martinson. Photo: Paul Martinson / Te Papa

It was severely damaged during heavy flooding in February 2020 and has remained closed since then.

Police said some time after the flood, possibly between 19 July and 5 August this year, some moa bones were taken from the museum.

They said the bones consisted of hip, leg and foot bones held together by a wire.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact officers on 105.