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MakotukutukuAncient Cape Wanbrow
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Sculpture

South Island giant moa

Funded and drawn. Sited at Lookout Point, not yet installed.

Funded

Paid for and drawn. Not built.

A render of the South Island giant moa sculpture in place on the Cape: a tall weathering-steel female with her skeleton in polished stainless, a small male beside her, and two steel lancewood trunks rising behind, with the sea and headland beyond.
The South Island giant moa, rendered on the site.Design Trish Shirley · render for Apex Engineering · Not yet installed — the exact spot at Lookout Point is still being settled with the Council.

Where we are now

Fully funded, engineered and drawn: a 3.6 m female with a male beside her, weathering steel with a stainless skeleton, on two steel lancewood trunks rising to 5.4 m. The spot at Lookout Point is being confirmed with the Council, and installation is set for spring 2026.

What it becomes

Standing at the top entrance, visible from the car park, at the head of the ground already planted.

Why it is in the plan

Lookout Point is the busiest place on the Cape, and the tallest bird on the trail is drawn for it.

What needs to happen

3 of 6
  • Designed
  • Engineered and quoted
  • Funded in full by a private donor
  • Site meeting with the Council to finalise the spot
  • Written Council consent for this sculpture and the wider plan
  • Installed
A 3D render of the same sculpture with two human figures standing beside it for scale; the female moa is roughly twice their height.
The same sculpture with figures for scale — the female stands 3.6 m.Design Trish Shirley · render for Apex Engineering

In deep time

Dinornis robustus, moa nunui. The tallest bird ever known: big females stood at least 2 m high at the back with a reach of up to 3.6 m, and males were less than half the weight.

Connected to

See this place on the Cape →