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Story: Taniwha

Te Rēinga falls

Image
Te Rēinga falls

This watercolour of Te Rēinga falls near Wairoa was painted in 1845. One tradition tells of Hine-kōrako, a female taniwha who married a local man. After being insulted by his people, she went to live under Te Rēinga falls. One day, when the Wairoa River was in flood, a canoe carrying local people was being swept towards the falls. In desperation a kaumātua (elder) called out to her, and she rescued those on board.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-075-013

by Edward Roper Stapleton Sandys

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Taniwha – Freshwater taniwha, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/10872/te-reinga-falls (accessed 13 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 1 March 2009.