Part of a strange global geological phenomenon, unusually large, near-perfect spherical boulders can be found on a lonely beach around 40 kilometres from the town of Oamaru in New Zealand’s South Island.
The Moeraki boulders, also known by their Maori name of “Kaihinaki,” lie on Koeohe Beach and have delighted tourists and intrigued scientists alike over the years, with their distinct shape and size reaching 2.2 metres in diameter.
A curiosity since Victorian times, numerous theories have been advanced about their origin.
In the Maori Te Reo language, Moeraki means “a place to sleep by day.” The name originates from a tale of the ancient navigator Kupe who was said to have left his iwi (tribe) behind to rest at Moeraki as he explored the South Island....
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