Moa bones found on Taihape farm

Students Teina Tutaki and Lydia Torr with the bones they found. Photo via Facebook.

Ancient moa bones have been uncovered on a farm near Taihape in the central North Island.

The bones, believed to be around 2000 years old, were the result of the first archaeological expedition for moa bones in almost half a century.

Victoria University students conducted the expedition under the guidance of staff, including a trained archaeologist.

Professor of Maori studies Peter Adds said the trip had been hugely successful.

Students Teina Tutaki and Lydia Torr with the bones they found. Photo via Facebook.

"We got so many bones that we essentially quadrupled the number of known moa bones from the volcanic plateau."

As well its historic significance, the dig gave Maori studies students the chance to train in archaeological recovery techniques.

"A lot of the history courses that we teach [in the School of Maori Studies] are based on the the results of archaeological research," said Mr Adds.

He said between about 60 and 100 bones and bone fragments, thought to make up somewhere between 21 to 50 moa, were found on the farm.