July 2024
A single feather from the now extinct New Zealand huia bird has set a world record after selling at auction for NZD$46,521.50 ($28,417).
The feather, which was initially expected to fetch up to $3,000, broke the previous record, which was for a feather of the same type, by 450%, according to the Webb's Auction House.
The huia bird was sacred to the Māori people. Their feathers were often worn as headgear by chiefs and their families and also gifted or traded.
The last confirmed sighting was in 1907, but according to the Museum of New Zealand, unconfirmed sightings were reported 20 to 30 years after that.
The huia was a small passerine bird of the wattlebird family in New Zealand and was known for its jumping ability and beautiful plumage, notable for its white tip on the edge.
The feather that was sold was "in beautiful condition and still has a very distinctive luster and there was no insect damage," said Leah Morris, head of decorative arts at Webb's Auction House.
She added that the auction house has framed the item behind UV protective glass and with archival paper, meaning it will have a "very long life."The feather is registered as a taonga tūturu under a system to protect Maori-made objects. Only collectors licensed in the system were allowed to purchase it, and it cannot leave the country without permission from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
High interest and enthusiasm from New Zealanders also helped drive up the price, according to Ms Morris. "We have a record number of people seeing how they can become registered collectors," she says. “In New Zealand we care so much about looking after the land, the environment and our flora and fauna, and I think because this bird is now extinct, we looked at other birds in New Zealand and said, we don't want this to ever happen again,” she added.
In the past, huia feathers were a status mark for Māori people. The species was already a rare bird before the arrival of Europeans, but became a target for collectors and fashion dealers after it became popular among those coming to New Zealand, leading to its extinction, according to the Museum of New Zealand.
Reference(s).. www.bbc.com and othter Media