Kōtore huia (Huia bird tail feather/s)

Kotore huia (huia bird tail feathers) were worn by rangatira (chiefs) as a sign of rank and status.Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) and their feathers were symbols of prestige not only for Māori, but also Pākehā (European New Zealanders). Their tail feathers were highly prized, their beaks became a fashionable form of adornment, and stuffed huia were eagerly sought as domestic ornaments. With this lethal popularity, huia became increasingly rare until, after failed attempts at conservation, the last reported sighting wasaround 1920. Huiaare now listed as an extinct species.