Date/Time
Date(s) - Thu 21 March
18:30 - 19:30
Location
Rongomaraeroa, Level 4, Te Papa
Meet a fossil hunter whose love of Aotearoa New Zealand’s amazing fossil record is infectious.
Morne, known through social media as Mamlambo Fossils, scours the beaches of Aotearoa New Zealand’s South Island to uncover rare fossils finds.
Through a discussion on the discovery, ethical collection, and preparation of fossils, Morne will illustrate how amateur fossil finders can impact how we understand New Zealand’s past. He will also walk through a series of rare fossil finds from the South Island. Expect to see sharks, penguins, giant birds, mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, giant turtles, and much more, including some undescribed species.
Morne combines his background in software engineering with a passion for fossils, using both technology and fieldwork to showcase Aotearoa New Zealand’s fossil record.
His videos as Mamlambo Fossils about fossil collection and preparation have more than 200 million views across social media, where he shares new videos weekly with his million plus followers. He uses 3D scanners, 3D printers, and 3D modelling to share his finds with people across New Zealand and the world. Morne has even printed a full-size Little Bush Moa.
Many of the fossils Morne has found are now at Canterbury Museum and Te Papa where they are being studied further. He is currently studying palaeontology at the University of Canterbury, runs a geology club for kids in Christchurch, and has just rented a workshop in Waikuku to display his fossils.