Moa footprints that are likely the oldest record of the giant birds ever documented have been discovered for the first time in the South Island.
Thought to be millions of years old the prints were discovered by chance by Kye Burn resident Michael Johnston in a swimming hole.
Each footprint is about 30 cm long and 30 cm wide. Globally footprints of extinct species are rare discoveries.
Otago Museum's Kane Fleury was the first expert to determine something potentially very significant had been found.
He's currently trying to extract the prints so they can be protected, but access for removal is complicated by the fact they are under a metre of water.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan from Kye Burn
Michael Johnston Photo: ODT / Stephen Jaquiery
