29 Aug 2023

Ten new species discovered in Auckland

From Morning Report, 8:57 am on 29 August 2023

Ten new species have been uncovered among a 'treasure trove' of fossils found under a wastewater plant in Auckland.

A paper out Monday outlines the 266 different species in a mound of sand dug up from under the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2020.

Researchers spent months sifting through the sand and found the world's oldest known flax snails and the spine of an extinct shark in the heap.

Palaeontologist Bruce Hayward spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.