Giant Moa Egg Found in 1966 Is Going Home to New Zealand, Colossal Biosciences Announces

The egg spent about six decades in a private American collection before Colossal Biosciences bought it at auction and announced its return to Aotearoa.

A giant moa egg found in New Zealand on January 14, 1966, is going home. After about six decades in a private American collection, the egg resurfaced at a public auction in June 2026, where Colossal Biosciences bought it. On October 20, the company announced plans to return it to Aotearoa, the Māori name for New Zealand. The egg measures about 8.7 by 6.7 inches, roughly 1.5 times the length of an ostrich egg.

Fewer than 40 sufficiently complete moa eggs are known in public collections worldwide, and only eight keep at least 90 percent of their shell. Fossil eggshell also preserves ancient DNA from extinct moa, a 2010 study showed. The egg has been reconstructed from many fragments, and Ngāi Tahu researchers will guide the reattachment of the remaining pieces and decide whether and when any imaging or DNA sampling takes place.

This story is based on original reporting by Rodielon Putol for Earth.com. Read the full feature on Earth.com → https://www.earth.com/animals/found-in-1966-a-giant-moa-egg-spent-about-60-years-in-an-american-collection-now-its-going-home-to-new-zealand/