Moa's Ark : Invaders of the Last Ark

For 80 million years, Moa's Ark was mammal free. Humans arrived from Polynesia and Europe in only the last 1000 years, and as presenter David Bellamy discovers, they changed these islands at an unparalleled rate. Channelling Indiana Jones, Bellamy hangs from old man's beard vines to assess the damage. The episode features footage of a beautiful dawn chorus, of the kiwi and the nocturnal kākāpō (the world's largest, rarest parrot), cave drawings of the moa-hunters, plus Māori harakeke weaving and a hangi with Tipene O'Regan. See the backgrounder for more on Bellamy’s exploration of Aotearoa's unique natural history.

New Zealand, too, has cathedrals of world heritage class, but these are green and growing. Their pillars are the trunks of massive trees, and their choristers are of the feathered kind.

– David Bellamy on New Zealand's forests in part one

Key Cast & Crew

Mike Lemmon

Cinematographer

Michael Stedman

Executive Producer

David Bellamy

Presenter

Ulla Ryghe

Script Editor

Craig McKersey

Camera

Peter Hayden

Producer, Director