Debunked: The myth of New Zealand's Moeraki Boulders
If you’ve ever visited New Zealand or taken a virtual tour on the internet, you’d agree it is a beautiful country. But it is not just the scenic beauty that the country has to offer. It some unique features too! One such interesting attraction of the country is Moeraki Boulders. Found on New Zealand’s Koekohe Beach, Shag Point, in the Otago region, the huge Moeraki boulders are a wonderful and interesting stop as you drive down the South Island of New Zealand. These spectacular boulders come with a strange myth. Let’s demystify it for you, while telling you more about them.
The myth
A group of native people of New Zealand, known as Maori, believe that these boulders are gourds (large fruits) made from the leftovers of eel baskets, calabashes (American tree that bears gourds) and kumara (the name for sweet potatoes in New Zealand). They claim that these came from the Arai-te-Uru, a huge sailing boat that drowned in nearby Shag Point in Koekohe and washed up on the beach. Over time, the objects from the ship fossilised into the large boulders that we see today!
The truth
Well, science is not much in favour of the Maori legend. Scientists suggest that Moeraki boulders were formed after the hardening of mudstones from the Palaeocene (66-56 million years ago) era that were buried in mudstone cliffs. Like all other stones on the beach, these stones also took a smooth, spherical shape from the action of the waves. Moreover, scientists also believe that the spherical shape is due to the mass diffusion of carbon, which caused the boulders to ‘grow’ over a period of 5 million years.
The boulders at a glance
The Moeraki boulders are 0.5–2.2 meters tall and made of mud, fine silt, and calcium carbonate cemented clay. These sandstone boulders have a greyish tint, are rich in carbon and have cracks and cavities on the surface. Surprisingly, these boulders were initially smaller in size. They took around 4 million years to attain their present size. Where can you locate them on the beach? The Moeraki boulders are distributed along the shore in groups or in isolation and are under the protection of scientific reserves!
Only 50 boulders remain
Records suggest that in the 19th century, New Zealand’s shores had much more boulders than what we see today. One reason for this decline is that people made extensive use of the smaller boulders as garden ornaments or as souvenirs. After realising this, the boulders were brought under legal protection in 1971. Since then, the law prohibits damage or removal of Moeraki boulders from the shores. So, how many can you spot on the beach? Currently, there are around 50 boulders remaining.
Moeraki Boulder in a museum
The Otago Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand, adorns a large Moeraki boulder at its former main entrance on the Great King Street. The boulder was brought to the museum in the late 1800s, long before these boulders were legally protected. It is one of the largest rocks, standing 6 feet (182 cm) tall and weighing more than 7 tonnes. The Museum also has a display of considerably smaller boulders.