Conservationists hope proposed regulations that will put a stop to the sale of bones of extinct species will help protect history.
Trading Moa bones could become illegal under the rules, some of which are taken from protected land.
Te Papa's storage facility holds the skeletons of whales, dolphins and Moa. Conservationists want them to stay boxed up and tucked away, keeping as much of the skeleton together as possible to understand its history.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says there's been over 350 examples of theft of bones from sites since 2010.
Native species are protected from sales, but extinct animals aren't unless they're found on protected land. That loophole has allowed for the legal sale of moa bones online.
The proposed regulations aim to keep taonga like Moa bones in its original resting place.
Te Papa Māori co-leader Dr Arapata Hakiwai says people are taking bones for their own benefit.
"People are going into areas they shouldn't be in and taking these for the sole reason of monetary gain."
The cost is far greater for scientists who lose the chance to learn about extinct animals.
Consultation is now open until the end of September on a discussion document outlining the Government's plan.
"They're a critical part of our heritage, only found here, they deserve to be treated better than they have been," Sage says.
And there's hope the Moa bones will be treated less as a money maker, Te Papa curator Colin Miskelly says.
"No one will be stealing bones from caves in future or archeological sites because there's no financial incentive to do it."
