Taniwha

The Taniwha (pronounced [ˈtaniɸa]) are formidable and highly revered supernatural beings of Māori mythology, traditionally said to inhabit the deepest pools of rivers, dark coastal caves, or treacherous ocean reaches marked by deceptive breakers and dangerous currents. As central figures in the spiritual landscape of Aotearoa (New Zealand), they occupied a dual role: they were most famously depicted as kaitiaki—respected protective guardians of specific tribes, people, or places—but were also feared in other traditions as dangerous, predatory entities capable of kidnapping mortals or causing destructive landslides. The origin of these beings is deeply rooted in the physical environment; those residing in the sea were often envisioned as gargantuan whales or great white sharks (known as mangō-taniwha), while inland variants were described as reptilian colossi resembling geckos or tuatara, complete with a row of jagged spines along their backs.

Beyond their physical presence, Taniwha served as primeval architects of the landscape, credited with the creation of major geographical features through their immense power. Legend maintains that Wellington’s harbour, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, was carved out by the movements of two Taniwha, one of whom eventually petrified into a hill that continues to overlook the modern city. Similarly, the female Taniwha Āraiteuru, who is said to have arrived with the early voyaging canoes, and her eleven sons are celebrated as the creators of the various branches of the Hokianga Harbour. These beings were also said to possess the ability to tunnel through the earth, uprooting ancient forests and triggering massive landslides beside the lakes they guarded.