Earthstory re-created a life-sized South Island Giant Moa, now extinct but once the world's largest bird, for Christchurch Attraction's Gondola Time Tunnel Experience. We consulted with museum experts and researched the latest thinking on how these creatures lived, which led us to create a more contemporary posture for this exhibit; past re-creations and skeletal displays showed an erect posture, whereas it is now believed these giants carried themselves long and low to penetrate the thick New Zealand bush.

The South Island Giant Moa was the largest of all ten moa species, and was the tallest bird to have ever lived. Fully grown females weighed up to 250kg, stood up to 2m tall at the shoulder, and could stretch up to 3.6m high to feed on high branches.

Moa were flightless, but this one actually flew - by helicopter, from the Gondola Base Station all the way up to the Port Hills Gondola Station for installation!