Re: Hang on....
"Why is this news?" I think you'll find that the _news_ is actually the publication of a report in the biology journal, which presumably was noticed by Parnell or brought to his attention recently. You might not realise just how long it takes to publish peer-reviewed papers.
What I do not understand is how the NZ scientists managed to compare the DNA with that of the 'spade-toothed beaked' variety, when one of these has never been see alive previously - was there sufficient viable DNA in the specimen bones that were stored away?