A single feather from the now extinct New Zealand huia bird recently set a world record when it was sold at an auction for NZD$46,521.50 ($28,417, £22,409). Initially expected to sell for up to $3,000, the feather broke the previous record for a feather of the same species by 450%. The huia bird was sacred to the Māori people, who often wore its feathers as headpieces or gifted and traded them.
The huia bird’s last confirmed sighting was in 1907, with unconfirmed sightings reported for the next twenty to thirty years. Known for its jumping abilities and beautiful plumage with a distinct white tip, the huia was a small songbird of the wattlebird family in New Zealand. The feather sold at auction was in excellent condition, with a sheen and no insect damage, framed behind UV protective glass for preservation.
Registered as a taonga tūturu under a system to protect Maori objects, the feather can only be purchased by collectors with a license and cannot leave the country without permission from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. High interest and enthusiasm from New Zealanders helped boost the auction price, with many seeing it as a symbol of caring for the environment and preventing the extinction of other native species.
In the past, huia feathers were a status symbol for Māori people and became even rarer with the arrival of Europeans, who targeted the species for collections and fashion trends. The popularity of huia feathers among newcomers to New Zealand led to the exploitation of the bird, ultimately contributing to its extinction.