The Huia was a unique New Zealand bird from the wattlebird family. The pair co-existed as a team in the dense forest canopy. Before the arrival of Europeans it was already a rare bird, confined to the Ruahine, Tararua, Rimutaka and Kaimanawa mountain ranges in the south east of the North Island.

It is the only bird in the world in which the bills of the male and female birds are different in shape and size.

This unique feature along with the bird beautiful plumage generated great interest from international collectors. The tail feathers were highly prized by Maori and Europeans alike. The last official sighting of the Huia was in 1907, however there are unconfirmed reports of their bird song being heard in the isolated bush of Ureweras 30 years ago.