Project aims to revive extinct South Island giant moa

Wednesday 9 July 2025 · 8 outlets · 7 reports · updated Wed 9 Jul 2025, 12:50pm

In this story University of Otago, Ngāi Tahu, Peter Jackson, Canterbury Museum, Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences, Ngāi Tahu, and Sir Peter Jackson have partnered on a $50 million project to de-extinct the South Island giant moa. The initiative intends to use gene editing and DNA from preserved remains to produce hatchlings within a decade. While some experts express doubt, the Canterbury Museum is supporting the collaboration.

How they headlined it

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1. NZ HeraldWed 9 Jul 2025, 5:00am

   South Island giant moa de-extinction plans: Sir Peter Jackson teams up with Colossal Biosciences (opens in new tab)

2. StuffWed 9 Jul 2025, 5:00am

   We will ‘de-extinct’ moa within next decade, says US bioscience company (opens in new tab)

3. Waikato Times via The PressWed 9 Jul 2025, 5:00am

   ‘Reverse Jurassic Park’: Extinct moa may hatch again in a decade (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Post (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesWed 9 Jul 2025, 9:44am

   'Extinction is forever': Otago expert rejects moa comeback claims (opens in new tab)

   • Company plans to bring back South Island giant moa (opens in new tab) Wed 9 Jul 2025, 9:44am
5. RNZWed 9 Jul 2025, 10:04am

   Sir Peter Jackson backs project to bring back extinct moa (opens in new tab)

6. 1News via RNZWed 9 Jul 2025, 12:50pm

   Sir Peter Jackson backs project to de-extinct moa, experts cast doubt (opens in new tab)