Taniwha Legends, Te Ngae, Mourea, Hamurana Springs, Taniwha Springs,
- Taniwha Legends, Te Ngae, Mourea, Hamurana Springs, Taniwha Springs, Fairy Springs -- Ngongotaha -- Tikitere -- Rotoiti and Hongi's Track -- the eastern lakes. Ruamano went all over the place, swimming wildly, winding around, up and down thrashing out the land and carving the Ruakituri River with his tail as he went. Her story The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour / Nga Taniwha i te Whanga-nui-a-tara with illustrations by Bruce Potter (Puffin 2011) won a Storylines Notable Non-fiction award and the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award in 2012. Discover the legendary Taniwha – a powerful, dragon-like guardian from Maori mythology in New Zealand. . Legend has … Learn all about Taniwha, a type of supernatural creature from Māori myth and legend. A creature of many forms Taniwha are supernatural creatures whose forms and characteristics vary according to different tribal traditions. Famous Taniwha Many taniwha have names and stories: Araiteuru: A taniwha who guided the first canoe to New Zealand Kaiwhare: Lives at the mouth of the Manukau Harbour Ureia: A taniwha of Lake Horowhenua These beings are not merely legends—they feature in legal discussions about land development and environmental protection in modern New Zealand. Amongst these legends, the story of Kiha, a courageous warrior, stands out. Legends credit certain taniwha with creating harbours by carving out a channel to the ocean. The wrath of the taniwha In Māori tradition some earthquakes were attributed to taniwha, dragon-like monsters. Culture Trip shows you Māori myths and legends through New Zealand’s beautiful North Island. Some are Polynesia-wide legends, including creation myths, adapted to local landscapes; others are parables to identify or protect valuable resources, or sagas which glorify human qualities prized by M ā ori. Crucial to the stories of deadly taniwha were the heroic slayers, who triumphed with their cunning and courage. The Legend of Kiha and the Taniwha: Maori Water Spirits Maori mythology is rich with intriguing tales of powerful water spirits called Taniwha. In Māori tradition, the harbour was once a lake occupied by two taniwha (supernatural creatures). Here, you are able to view a collection of myths and legends alongside contemporary stories reflecting themes relevant to today's world. One day he travelled north to the Bay of Plenty and came across a beautiful woman named Waitaiki and instantly fell in love. Explore legends of taniwha, patupaiarehe, and more Poutini & Waitaiki Poutini was a taniwha or guardian of pounamu. The two taniwha just couldn’t decide which was the best way to the moana and finally they agreed to go their separate ways. Pūrākau (Māori Myths and Legends) Explore te ao Māori through pūrākau retold by various iwi (tribes) about the origins of time through atua Māori (Māori gods) and the historic travel sites visited by many tīpuna (ancestors) including Ranginui (Sky Father), Tāwhirimātea (God of the winds), Kupe and Māui. Rereroa the Legends Of The Land (Part One) During a pitched battle against the Taniwha, a small taua (war-party) of Aho, led by Nukutawhiti, suffered defeat. Enter the dark realm of New Zealand’s largest freshwater resident, the longfin eel. Traditionally, sandstone knives were used to cut pounamu. The Gods taking pity on her turned her into a taniwha and endowed her with great and beautiful powers. Find out more about the fascinating Maori legends and myths in Rotorua and how they keep the culture alive. Celebrate Māori Myths & Legends with Takahē, your Tui & Tama Club mascot friend! For the month of November we are excited to display three local myths and legends in the form of graphic novels on the Front Porch Gallery at the Te Awamutu Museum – Education & Research Centre. The significance of the Taniwha extends beyond folklore and mythology; it embodies the resilience, strength, and spirituality of the Māori people. How Hine Popo crossed the Sea of Raukawa This is the story of Hine Popo, an ancestress of the Rangitane, which tribe formerly occupied Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: - In those ancient times there were two brothers living in this district, and the name of the elder was Te Hiki-paroa and that of the younger, Manini-pounamu. Lake Tikitapu, Lake Rotokakahi -- Tarawera and the eruption. Below are the white cliffs and river. From this moment on, the earth was formed and populated. Whataitai and Ngake are two taniwha living in a beautiful lake. Other taniwha appear as a floating log, which behaves in a disconcerting way. In the Māori cosmology, the Taniwha hold a significant place Jan 1, 2026 · Other taniwha, like Ngarara Huarau, became infamous for their aggression—devouring villagers, stalking settlements, or requiring warriors to vanquish them in epic battles. Local legends digitised from published resources. Ravaged from terrible body wounds and alone, Nukutawhiti pleaded to the gods for mercy, and they responded by sending a messenger in… Learn all about Taniwha, a type of supernatural creature from Māori myth and legend. The creature's eyes glow a fiery red, exuding an aura of ancient power and ferocity. In New Zealand's mystical waters, the enigmatic Taniwha, a dual-natured guardian and menace, captivates Maori culture's essence. Whether celestial or terrestrial, taniwha are a special part of te ao Maori and the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn all about Taniwha, a type of supernatural creature from Māori myth and legend. Includes some of our best NZ teaching resources on this topic. One of the taniwha created the harbour entrance by breaking out to the open sea. In many Maori legends, the taniwha are supernatural beings that live in caves, water and forest. Taniwha, to us, are said to resemble serpents and dragons, and live within the oceans, rivers, lakes and caves of New Zealand. Awarua would often venture out into Te Moana o Raukawa chasing food or visiting friends. Their names were Whataitai and Ngake. Pania is the legendary Kaitiaki (guardian/protector) of the reef in local Maori legend and her wairua (spirit) is connected strongly to the moana (ocean) close by to the town of Napier. For example, it was said that a taniwha travelled north from Porirua, near Wellington, to Te Aute in Hawke’s Bay, and left a trail of destruction. In Māori tradition the Springs are waiora, the purest form of water which is the wairua (spiritual) and the physical source of life. Taniwha's head is a fearsome visage characterized by sharp, menacing teeth and a long, pointed horn protruding from its forehead. These stories have been either written or retold by Wiremu Grace. Polynesian navigator Kupe is also believed to have visited Wellington Harbour. These mythical creatures originate from the indigenous lore of New Zealand’s Māori people. Contains a story sheet with the pūrākau and lovely pictures to piece together. Each Taniwha is unique, with its Origins The Taniwha, deeply rooted in Māori mythology, are formidable water beings considered both protectors and threats. The Legend of the Taniwha – New Zealand (Original Version) In the lush and verdant land of Aotearoa, where the rivers run clear and the mountains touch the sky, the Māori people have long shared tales of the Taniwha. Their role Poutini the taniwha (supernatural being) was the guardian of pounamu who swam up and down the west coast of the South Island. 1808309 She writes in both English and Maori, and bilingual retellings of Maori legends are one of her specialties. Subscribed 21 1. However it is believed that it started out in a shark-like form. Ravaged from terrible body wounds and alone, Nukutawhiti pleaded to the gods for mercy, and they responded by sending a messenger in… Discover the fascinating Taniwha, a mythical snake-dragon hybrid in Māori legends, and explore its cultural significance and legendary tales. Both categories merge in whakapapa to explain the overall origin of the Māori and their connections to the world which they lived in. Some legends speak of taniwha falling in love with humans, guarding their bones, or punishing the desecration of sacred lands. There is a proverb from Waikato: Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha. In this blog, we look at some of these legends and uncover how our artists use significant creatures and animals in Māori culture as inspiration for their designs. Discover the fascinating world of Māori mythical creatures in New Zealand mythology. Read More Legends of the Māori by Maui Pomare Written by the great Maui Pomare, this book contains Māori history, mythology and folk lore, as well as poetry and stories of old New Zealand. “The Might and Magic of the Fallen Angel” The Taniwha was the final transformation of the Watcher, when the gods waged their terrible war to end their rise to power. Once, Poutini was being pursued in the sea by Whaitipu and took refuge in a bay at Tūhua (Mayor Island, in the Bay of The Legend of the Taniwha – New Zealand (Original Version) In the lush and verdant land of Aotearoa, where the rivers run clear and the mountains touch the sky, the Māori people have long shared tales of the Taniwha. Being the only survivor, Nukutawhiti was forced to flee, having been blinded in the chaos. Wellington 's harbour, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, was reputedly carved out by two taniwha. Awarua was a taniwha who lived in the Porirua harbour many hundreds of years ago. The legends of Te Waikoropupū are told in the stories of Huriawa, its taniwha (guardian spirit). In those times, the surrounding hills were clad with the tallest native trees and the harbour was much deeper than it is today. Each Taniwha is unique, with its Taniwha is a mythical creature that is an important part of Māori mythology. They can be protectors or threats, living in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The younger brother married Learn all about Taniwha, a type of supernatural creature from Māori myth and legend. Waikato of a hundred taniwha, every bend a taniwha. But now, just as this misunderstood creature is starting to reveal its many mysteries, some are questioning its future. They had been driv… Māori tradition concerns more folkloric legends often involving historical or semi-historical forebears. For some this refers to the many taniwha of the Waikato River, while for others it is about the many important chiefs of the area. Breaking away from her fathers grasp Hau-Mapuhia forced her way through the solid ground and formed the great hollow in which lie the waters of Waikare. Taniwha and chiefs Taniwha were also a symbol for great chiefs. Deep in our lakes and rivers lurks a monster that has become the stuff of countless myths and legends. Known as taniwha, they lurked in watery dens, or in caves, and were often depicted as dragons or serpents, with fiery eyes and lashing tails. The stories and legends, or pūrākau, of Te Tau Ihu tell of significant events in the history of the region. In Māori mythology, taniwha are large supernatural beings that are generally found in lakes and rivers. As custodians of their ancestral knowledge, the Māori continue to honour and respect the legacy of the Taniwha, ensuring that their stories endure for generations to come. Wellington’s wind-buffeted airport is on land uplifted from the sea by earthquakes. 1K views 4 years ago Taniwha myths and legends short audio storiesmore Discover the intricate details of Taniwha legends, from its depiction in traditional carvings to its role in modern Maori storytelling. [8][9] Some can tunnel through the earth, uprooting trees in the process. Supernatural Creatures: Taniwha In New Zealand folklore, Taniwha are supernatural creatures. Taniwha inhabit the rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, with their presence marking sacred or dangerous places. Each Taniwha is unique, with its Taniwha in their earthly form are often elemental in appearance, such as wood, wind, water or stone. SCIS no. He feared another taniwha named Whaitipu, the guardian of Hinehoaka, who was the goddess of sandstone. These supernatural beings are believed to live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers. A DigitalNZ story by: National Library of New Zealand Topics - Explore te ao Māori through pūrākau retold by various iwi (tribes) about the origins of time through atua Māori (Māori gods) and the historic travel sites visited by many tīpuna (ancestors) including Ranginui (Sky Father), Tāwhirimātea (God of the winds), Kupe and Māui. Taniwha are powerful water guardians or monsters. The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour Author (s): Moira Wairama Maori Myths and Legends | NZ Picture Books In ancient times in Aotearoa, there was a beautiful lake in which there dwelt two monstrous taniwha. Rotoehu and Rotoma, Okataina -- The story of Hatupatu -- The blue and green lakes. Sep 22, 2012 · Supernatural creatures – some terrifying, others protective – are legendary in Māori tradition. In this video, we explore the epic story of Taniwha: its origins, powers, and its role as Title Haumia and the Taniwha - Legends of the Maori Content partner Victoria University of Wellington Collection New Zealand Electronic Text Collection Description There is a story concerning that chief Haumia and a taniwha, a monster of the sea, which lived in a cave at the base of a cliff on the ocean front at Honipaka, on the Kawhia coast. During a pitched battle against the Taniwha, a small taua (war-party) of Aho, led by Nukutawhiti, suffered defeat. These legendary creatures are said to dwell in the depths of rivers, lakes, and oceans, guarding their domains and the people who live nearby. Print Māori Myths, Legends and Contemporary Stories Kia ora and welcome to Māori Myths, Legends and Contemporary Stories. Title Haumia and the Taniwha - Legends of the Maori Content partner Victoria University of Wellington Collection New Zealand Electronic Text Collection Description There is a story concerning that chief Haumia and a taniwha, a monster of the sea, which lived in a cave at the base of a cliff on the ocean front at Honipaka, on the Kawhia coast. Wellington’s harbour, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, was reputedly carved out by two taniwha. Though supernatural, in the Māori world view they were seen as part of the natural environment. Read More Kupe and te Wheke a Muturangi According to the narratives, Kupe pursued an octopus known as Te Wheke a Muturangi from Hawaiiki to Aotearoa. Taniwha Taniwha are supernatural creatures that are thought to take many forms from ferocious water monsters to reptiles, sharks and whales. Raekapua, a major pā site of Rangitāne. Use these cut-outs to tell children the Taniwha of Wellington Harbour story. But she would always return to the place she regarded as home, the Porirua harbour. The famous legend of the lake, Hinemoa and Tutenakai, Kuirau Park and the Taniwha and the arrival of the Te Arawa waka at nearby Maketu. 8thtw, p1lfqx, q7gi, ufaqt, ieurb, x547, b21al, gq3po, nnoi, jxrp,