One way to use PP in the classroom to engage writers

1. Creative Character Friday We are going to have some fun creating new characters for our writing and art today.

7. Taniwha stamp Issued in 1960, this stamp features a taniwha design based on the cave drawing known as the Ōpihi taniwha. This was drawn on a limestone cave shelter overlooking the Ōpihi River in South Canterbury.

8. Āraiteuru Āraiteuru is the famed taniwha represented on this stamp. She is said to have arrived in New Zealand with the early voyaging canoes, and her 11 sons are credited with creating the various branches of the Hokianga Harbour.

9. Ngake and Whātaitai This mural is of the two taniwha said to have created Wellington Harbour. Ngake is blue, and Whātaitai green. The artwork is at Pikopiko Clyde Quay Kindergarten in Wellington.

10. The Kawautahi taniwha Kawautahi is a small lake 15 kilometres up Rētāruke River, a tributary of the Whanganui. It was avoided by Māori because a ferocious taniwha was said to live in it. In 1892 a surveyor employed three Māori from Taumarunui – Wārahi, Pita Te Aitua and Piki – to assist him in his work at the lake. Despite their concerns, they agreed because of the good wages on offer. However, while there they were allegedly attacked by the taniwha, and although slightly wounded, they all survived. They later told their story to T. W. Downes, who based this image loosely on their description.

11. Ngārara Huarau Ngārara Huarau, depicted on this stamp, was a giant taniwha resembling the lizard-like native tuatara. There are varying tribal traditions relating to Ngārara Huarau. In one, he was killed in the Wairarapa while visiting his sister Parikawhiti.

12. Tuhirangi The taniwha Tuhirangi accompanied the legendary explorer Kupe on his voyage of discovery to New Zealand. It was reputed that Kupe placed Tuhirangi in Te Moana-o-Raukawa (Cook Strait) as a guardian.

13. Tāmure and Kaiwhare Tāmure wrestles with Kaiwhare, a man-eating taniwha who lived in an underwater cave at Piha. Tāmure lived at Hauraki and was reputed to have a mere pounamu (greenstone weapon) with the power to defeat any taniwha. He came to Piha at the request of the local people and fought the creature. He hit it with the mere, and though he did not kill it, its wounds prevented it from eating people. From then on it lived on crayfish and octopus.

14. Northland taniwha mascot This is a modern interpretation of a taniwha, known as Tāne. It is the mascot of the Northland Rugby Union.

15. What is a Taniwha? Based on legends of the Maori people, the Taniwha is a great water creature that acts as a protector or guardian of a certain tribe or place. Based on the legend, each tribe has its own Taniwha.

16. Description: Taniwhas come in many different forms. If the Taniwha appears in the seas or oceans, it takes the form of either a very huge shark or a whale. When it is spotted in lakes or other inland waters, the Taniwha comes in the form of a gecko or a spined lizard. In some encounters it appears as a log or a “wheke” which means octopus”. Taniwhas can be both male and female.

17. Because of its size and strength, it is said that Taniwhas are capable of tunnelling through the ground, uprooting trees and overturning houses in the process. Some Taniwhas have been recognised as creators of certain harbours that form channels to the sea. Among these harbours is the Wellington harbour. According to the story, the area was created by two Taniwhas. Aside from channels, natives point out that the bends in the river of Waikato were made by Taniwhas. Landslides in the area are often regarded as the works of Taniwhas as well.

19. M a o r i S y m b o l s