That's a representation of a Taniwha. Depending on where you come from in New Zealand it is a taneefaa, or a taneewaa. These days most people would say it with an F sound, but the 'wh' can be quite gutteral. We have made the picture below - which we borrowed - into a link to the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand (where we borrowed the picture from.)
It looks like a dragon, but as Taniwha generally live in water they are not reputed to be breathers of fire. They just have fiery eyes. Click on the picture for more.
Very near to Rotorua - where F started her working life, there are a pair of lakes called the Blue Lake and the Green Lake. (Pakeha New Zealanders are reknowned for their practical naming of things - they called their two main islands North and South. Some people make fun of that but there is absolutely no confusion as long as you know which way round to hold your map.) The lakes' Māori names are Tikitapu and Rotokākahi
Very near to Rotorua - where F started her working life, there are a pair of lakes called the Blue Lake and the Green Lake. (Pakeha New Zealanders are reknowned for their practical naming of things - they called their two main islands North and South. Some people make fun of that but there is absolutely no confusion as long as you know which way round to hold your map.) The lakes' Māori names are Tikitapu and Rotokākahi
Anyway - Blue and Green Lakes. They really are Blue and Green respectively. The Blue Lake is the one you can swim in. The Green Lake is tapu (sacred) and has a Taniwha to protect it. These two small lakes are only a few metres apart, and there is probably some scientific explanation for their colour differences (Rotorua is in an active geothermal area after all) but the difference in the atmosphere over each is something you can almost taste. The Blue Lake sparkles and nature laughs around it. The Green Lake feels sombre, and silent, like a sadness rests there. It feels like a place for reverent contemplation.
F says she never saw the taniwha but she wasn't going to disrespect the tapu of its lake or disturb its slumber.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh, that is wonderfurs stuff, Tigger-sahib! Thank you (and F) for sharing this story and the tale of the lakes. I closed my eyes and I swear I could see them! Hugs and whiskeries, YAM-aunty xxx
Nobby, who is generally prepared to take on any living creature, feels he might leave that Taniwha alone in his Green Lake.
ReplyDeleteGail says the lake names remind her of the town of Imotski in Croatia, where she once spent the night on a cycling tour. Imotski claims to have a 'Blue Lake' and a smaller 'Red Lake'. Gail and her fellow cyclists passed by the Blue Lake (which was more or less blue) then took a detour in foul weather, up a steep hill (with heavily laden bicycles - she knows F will relate to this) only to find the 'Red Lake' was in fact also blue...
Re Red Lake - clearly more imagination was required. Test your mettle on Nessie Nobby - and send us your views for inclusion in next week's instalment on Nessie.
DeleteThank you Mr T and F.
ReplyDeleteWe were in Rororua back in December 2006 and I remember walking around those lakes. Eerily beautiful...and smelly too!
Green Lake (in those days) was a wonderful place for quiet contemplation.
DeleteAs a fellow New Zealander, it was taneefaa. I do recognise the stamp.
ReplyDeleteThat stamp has always had a fascination for F
DeleteAustralia changed the year before. I was born in 1967 so I’ve only ever lived my life with dollars and cents I have been to New Zealand and did get to Rotorua the landscape is spectacular all over the two islands I hope to visit again one day
ReplyDeleteDo you have geothermal areas in Aus?
DeleteI think so. Not like in new Zealand. But I do remember seeing it on a documentary once. Might have to Google it
DeleteI followed the link to supernatural taniwha and am thinking that is what used to hide under my bed when I was a child and had to sleep in the middle of the bed with my arms not hanging off to be snatched by whatever was under the bed. this is the stuff of nightmares. except for the part about holding back the canoe at the waterfall. I did not know that NZ uses dollars and cents, which means I have learned something new to forget. ha ha. I think it makes perfect sense to use sensible words to name things. My son Dan would be lost. when he was 17 and wanted directions to another town, I said go south on 34ths street, and added a few other instructions. he came back with is south going towards the sky way or away from the sky way.
ReplyDeleteYou should read some Terry Pratchet books - The Hogfather might be a good one to start on. We suspect (hope) that you might share Pratchet's sense of humour and warped imagination.
DeleteHave you ever seen a Taniwha ,Tigger? I believe there be Dragons in Wales.
ReplyDeleteAh - I, the Tigger, have not yet been to New Zealand (but F is either threatening or promising....). I might however have more chance of getting to Wales - where should i go looking for dragons when I get there?
DeleteThank you for the New Zealand info. I wonder if that image recurs in textile arts, too, or if it's considered too sacred to be handled casually.
ReplyDeleteThat rock drawing image of Taniwha is not copyright and not sacred. If sacred it probably would have been too tapu to represent on the stamp. Help yourself if you want to use it - just give credit where it s owed. Search online for maori images and symbols and you could find a lot of inspiration if those sort of designs attract you. I (F) adapt the ideas for bone carvings.
DeleteOur Waikato River is believed to be home to at least three different taniwha, but I have never been fortunate enough to see one.
ReplyDeleteAlong one stretch of road near Meremere the local taniwha was believed to be the cause of several road deaths. Official opinion is they were caused by fog and bad driving, but who knows?
The taniwha must be hidden in the fog (that's why the officials have never seen it). Driving in a manner more respectful to the taniwha would probably resolve the problem.
ReplyDelete