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A South Island Story translated by Margaret Orbell The Maori text of this story was first published in 1901, in the Journal of the Polynesian Society, volume X, pages 72–73. It was sent to the Journal by ‘H.T., of Croisilles, Nelson District’. Whaiwhaiā, also known as Weiweiā and Wawaiā, was said to be an enchanted log sometimes seen drifting along the rivers in the Waikato district. It also travelled to other parts of the country, even sometimes to the South Island. It was seen stranded in so many places that it was the origin of the saying quoted in this story. Such magic logs were common in Maori folklore. If someone interfered with one, it at once set off for some other place. Whaiwhaiā was also said to be a taniwha, a protector of Ngati Maniapoto in the Waikato.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TAH196706.2.5.1

Bibliographic details

Te Ao Hou, June 1967, Page 7

Word Count
139

A South Island Story Te Ao Hou, June 1967, Page 7

A South Island Story Te Ao Hou, June 1967, Page 7