Aotearoa New Zealand Dinosaur Fossils
Did you know our Kiwi dinosaur fossils were found near by a mountain named by ancient Māori as
Maungataniwha.
Mountain of the Dragons!
Aotearoa's Dromaeosaurid (like Velociraptor) about 2m long. Evidence One toe bone. Location Mangahouanga.
Hey kids did you know that the Tuatara were around with our Kiwi Dinosaurs
I reckon this Tuatara at the Wellington Zoo is thinking hmm... this T rex footprint looks very familiar
Chatham Island Theropod Dinosaur Fossils
Thank you
Dr Jeffery Stillwell & Dr Chris Consoli from MONASH University - Melbourne Australia
for sending us these scientific fossils cast for our Kiwi Kids to see, touch and learn about our past.
Thank you
Dr Jeffery Stillwell & Dr Chris Consoli from MONASH University - Melbourne Australia
for sending us these scientific fossils cast for our Kiwi Kids to see, touch and learn about our past.
Kia ora Tamariki (children) when we came to your school these are the Aussie Paleontologists (Pictured on the left) I was telling you about who recovered dinosaur fossils from Manganui Beach North Chatham Island. Not long after they sent the fossil casts of what they found to me I then went to visit the now (late) Joan Wiffen back in 2006 our NZ Dinosaur fossil hunter and we compared it side by side with the largest theropod dinosaur toe bone (pictured below) which she and her late husband Pont discovered in the Mangahouanga Stream and we reckon the toe bone from the Chatham Island which came from a huge Carnivore could have been a Kiwi T Rex!
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The (late) Joan Wiffen our Kiwi Dinosaur Hunter & Dinosaur Darren 2006
Dinosaur Darren & Hamish Campbell - Senior Geologist/Paleontologist
at Te Papa Aotearoa's New Zealand's National Museum talking all about Rocks and Fossils.
at Te Papa Aotearoa's New Zealand's National Museum talking all about Rocks and Fossils.
Aotearoa's Mosasaur
Taniwhasaurus
(Taniwha Lizard)
Taniwhasaurus
(Taniwha Lizard)
Our Kiwi Mosasaur was named after the Taniwha.
In ancient times te ao Māori (Māori worldview) Taniwha was said to have lived in the great rivers, lakes or Moana (ocean) around Aotearoa. Māori legends tell of Māori encountering Taniwha, falling prey to them, slaying them. It was said some Taniwha had Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship) over areas it inhabited and often these places were assigned as Tapu (sacred) and because of this the Taniwha's Manaa (Authority, Power, Spiritual force) was acknowledge by Māori and so Manaakitanga (respect) was given to these mighty Taniwha. Taniwha made such an impact on ancient Māori that the Taniwha became legends and stories for generations to come. |
Crickey! that's it I need a bigger Waka (canoe)
More to come...
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