Leanne Warr, Dannevirke museum finally able to put huia bird back where she belongs, NZ Herald, 26 February 2024
A huia bird, stolen more than three years ago, is finally back home where she belongs.
The female huia, part of what was thought to be a mated pair, was stolen in 2020 in what the man convicted for the theft claimed was to repay a drug debt.
The birds were shot in 1889, then preserved, and given as a wedding present by Tom Thompson to his daughter Caroline.
The preserved pair was kept in the family until being given to the museum and the theft of the female upset the Dannevirke community.
Then, two years after she was stolen, police informed both the museum and local iwi that the bird had been found.
But unfortunately, she was damaged – one leg was missing.
Last year, she was brought back to Dannevirke by a confederation of iwi, starting the journey at Waikanae, and handed over to Rangitane o Tamaki nui a Rua at Makirikiri marae before the precious taonga was returned to the museum.
But she still needed repairs before she could be truly reunited with her mate.
Now, with the help of Wētā Workshop, she has a new leg and has been placed back in the display case with her mate.
“It’s absolutely amazing what they’ve done,” he says.
Wētā Workshop prop maker and senior technician Paul van Ommen had been assigned the task of restoring the huia, and was in Dannevirke to return the birds to their rightful place.
He also replaced the organic material inside the case.
He says anything to do with natural stuff is usually assigned to him.
Paul has worked on such films as Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Prince Caspian, making miniatures which recreate the natural world. “Especially forests.”
Murray is keen to ensure there will be no further attempts on the bird pair now that they are back on display, and has stepped up security.
There are also plans to buy another display case which will be more secure than the current one and the museum is working on raising the funds for it.