Tangaroa and the Taniwha

Above the wakas was an enchanted, inky, tremendously dreary and gloomy sky. The crackling of lightning lit up the moana. The Maori’s had left Hawaiki in their wakas in search of a new land.

Suddenly from the murky depths rose a colossal taniwha. The taniwha had immense fangs, glowing scary eyes and was the most terrifying monster of the sea. The monstrous taniwha devoured some of the petrified warriors on the wakas.

Hearing the sound of destruction brought Tangaroa to the surface to see what was happening.  Tangaroa was a muscular god, he had a fearsome moko on his mata telling them all his about father and his mother. He was a brave sea warrior, he had massive strength, long hair like a smooth kauri tree trunk. He held a tewhatewha in his bulky hand.

Tangaroa shouted “What are you doing in my moana?” He cut the pitch black tattooed taniwha’s enormous flesh. The tanwhia shrieked out in pain “Grrrrrrr”. The wretched taniwha splattered the ocean with scarlet blood, the waka filled up with magma red. The ocean was a catastrophe of red coloured blood. The taniwha lay in three pieces.

One piece of the taniwha became the majestic North Island of Aotearoa, the second piece became the stunning South Island and the last became Stewart Island.  Now you know how Tangaroa created Aotearoa.