Steve
I am not from Aotearoa/New Zealand but have worked in Polynesia. The
pronounciation of Moa is, as you say, more like 'mor-a' than 'mow-er'.
The 'o' in Moa sounds like the 'aw' in 'law' in English. It is
basically the same sound as the two o's in Aotearoa and the 'o' in
Moata, a locality on the Samoan Island of Savai'i and, I understand, the
Maori word for 'early'.
David
wrote:
> At the risk of encouraging Lorne and Glen I offer the following:
>
> Some years ago I purchased a children's book in NZ - Pukunui and his
> friend Moata Moa - for my children naturally. It is a good read with
> lots
> of maori words and a pronunciation guide at the back. Apparently the
> correct pronunciation for Moa is mora not mower. Can any NZ birders
> comment on this?
>
> Cheers
>
> Steve
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> Stephen Clark
> Agriculture Victoria
> Pastoral & Veterinary Institute
> Private Bag 105 HAMILTON 3300 Australia
> Phone 0355 730 977
> Fax 0355 711 523
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
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David McDonald
PO Box 1355, Woden ACT 2606, Australia
Tel: +61 2 6231 8904 (h); +61 2 6249 5618 (w)
Fax: +61 2 6249 0740
E-mail:
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