Kurī is the Māori language name for the Polynesian dog. It was introduced to New Zealand by Māori people during their migrations from East Polynesia sometime around 1280 AD.
It was used by Māori as a food source and the skin and hair was used for making dog-skin cloaks Māori traditional textiles, belts, decorating weapons, and poi.The kurī became extinct in New Zealand some time after the arrival of European settlers. The last known specimens, a female and her pup, are now in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
