[GhostShark]

"The Maori peopel of Aotearoa(New Zealand) tell interesting stories about the Taniwha. It is often described asas a fierce dragon-like creature that lived in deep water and dark places." from one of my childhood books

"A taniwha (pronounced "TAH-ni-fah") is a legendary monster said by the Maori to live in the ocean and inland waters of New Zealand, hiding in deep pools, rivers, lakes, and dark caves. The Waikato River proverbially has a hundred of them, one on each bend.

Taniwha were often guardians to Maori tribes and also pets or friends to specific historical/legendary people.

Wellington's harbour, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, was reputedly carved out by two taniwha, the petrified remains of one became one of the hills overlooking the city.

Long relegated to the realms of folklore by the european of New Zealand, a taniwha became a cause of much contraversy in 2002 when a Maori tribe successfully halted and eventually redirected the redevelopment of a major highway in order the protect the home of thier legendary protector.-Wikipedia

I have always wondered about this creature and I don't think there has been a thread about it before or if it has even mentioned. All of the aqua-cryptids, I think that this creature most likely exists. New Zealand is amazing island for rare creatures. There was the Moa, hunted to extinction by Europeans or Maoris, and there is the Tuatara, a lizard that has existed since the days of the dinosaurs and has a symbiotic relationship with a bird. Also the culture has espoused the legend so deeply, there's even a rugby team named after it. It may just all be folklore but it's the stuff i like to believe in.

[joc]

I bet Kismit has heard of it.

[Daughter of the Nine Moons]

Yep, I am willing to bet that too!

[Deimos]

hmm, sounds kinda like a bunyip

[Kismit]

but has the Taniwha heard of me? ..


Great story Ghost Shark.

It does sound very similar to a Bunyip, Monster Hunter. If you have ever spent the afternoon siting on a river bank with the reflection of the water shimering against the rocks on the other side. It's very easy to imagine something magical is happening.

Perhaps that's why so many cultures have water spirit legends.

[GhostShark]

Kismit, my fathers from New Zealand yet he just dismisses it as legend.
How do New Zealanders view the Taniwha?

[theorist]

i am in new zealand and it is real.
my friend "touched" it when he jumped into lake taupo

[Kismit]

Dispite what theorist has said, some New zealanders(including myself) also view it as just a legend. Allthough to the Maori it is quite important and a part of there culture. So important infact that Taniwha's have been known to stop new roads being built . There's a story in the front page section somewhere ,I'll go and see if I can find it for you.

Can't find it, but if you google Taniwhas under News it's bound to crop up somewhere.

This post has been edited by Kismit: 10 February 2005 - 10:02 PM

[Mysteryman]

Site based on the Taniwha, check it out:

http://www.textiles....y/wool/taniwha/

[Kismit]

Here's a link to the story I mentioned earlier.

Linky
Source:New zealand Herald.

[MJB222]

Hmmmmmm, yet another aquatic cryptid I think that most aquatic cryptids are just made up legends cause water isn't our element so they guess whats down there

[theorist]

there are also a lot of people who beleive in the creature.
no i am not maori and i find that offensive if anyone thinks that i beleive in it just because its my ancestors myths.
i do not beleive that the tani that exists today because the true form has been clouded out by exagerations like vampires who origionated as blodd drinkers that are nocturnal but then turned into flying bats that suck through fangs thanks to the media.