In the lush, green land of Aotearoa—New Zealand—legends breathe through every river, mountain, and cave. The Māori people, the guardians of these lands, tell tales of the Taniwha—a powerful creature that lives in deep waters, dark caves, and hidden valleys.
Some say the Taniwha is a protector.
Others believe it is a predator.
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I arrived in Rotorua, a place of bubbling geothermal pools and thick mists. A Māori elder named Kaia offered to tell me the story of her iwi's (tribe's) taniwha.
She led me to a sacred lake—Lake Tarawera—and began the tale.
"Our taniwha once guarded our people," she said. "It lived in the depths and kept invaders away. But when disrespected, it turned."
Kaia's grandfather had seen it. Long, serpent-like, with a row of spines on its back, glowing eyes, and a roar that shook the earth. His village had violated the tapu—sacred laws—and the taniwha destroyed their canoes overnight, vanished their livestock, and turned the waters black for weeks.
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That night, I camped by the lake.
It was quiet, too quiet. Around midnight, the still surface of the water rippled, though there was no wind.
Then, the earth trembled slightly—an almost imperceptible quake. From the shadows, I heard something like deep breathing. The trees near the shore bent backward slightly, as if bowing—or recoiling.
I didn't see it.
But I felt it. Watching. Waiting.
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The Taniwha is more than a creature. It is the spirit of the land, wild and ancient. To the Māori, it represents balance.
Break that balance—through disrespect, pollution, greed—and the Taniwha awakens.
Modern stories say roads have been rerouted in New Zealand to avoid disturbing known Taniwha resting places. Builders and developers consult elders before digging. Because no one—no one—wants to anger the guardian in the water.
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Some taniwha protect sacred spaces. Others avenge those who are wronged. A few are said to fall in love with humans, bringing them into the deep forever.
The line between monster and protector is thin. It depends on how you behave.
As I left Lake Tarawera, Kaia smiled gently and whispered, "You were respectful. That's why you're safe."
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To be continued…