Papakauri, a taniwha of the Waihou River
The following extract was taken from an article entitled 'THE TIPUA-KURA, AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD.' by Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, C.M.G. It was published in Journal of the Polynesian Society, Volume 15, 1906, pp 27-57. ...Papakauri is an enchanted tree, whose history is even more mysterious than that of Papataunaki, related in a previous article. It is, moreover, surrounded by such a web of superstition of a truly unexplainable nature that it will be difficult to make myself intelligible to Europeans. I am, indeed, conscious that the pakeha side of my brain does not understand the tale as related to me, whereas on the Maori side it is clear enough. I think I have already remarked that tipuas are an exception to the rule, that all things are subject to the great laws that govern the universe. Tipuas obey no law, whether human or divine, but are somewhat amenable to karakias when uttered by a tohunga of reputation. With this preliminary warning, I will commence
