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Book details

Ko Te Hiakai Tangata: Te Taniwha o Tuarā-rangaia

Ko Te Hiakai Tangata: Te Taniwha o Tuarā-rangaia

Published in
1999
4.17
on Goodreads (6)

Description

This is the Maori language edition of Te Hiakai Tangata:The Taniwha of Tuara-Rangaia. This is a story of a taniwha that lives beside a track between villages and menaces travellers and the surrounding iwi. When a chief's son is taken by the taniwha, Te Hiakai, the people devise many plans to trap and kill the taniwha, but each time Te Hiakai outwits them. In the end, Pohutukawa, a chief's daughter, speaks to the taniwha. Through her words a spell is broken, and the taniwha transforms into a young warrior, Te Haeata, who had been cursed by a tohunga long ago. Pohutukawa and Te Haeata fall in love and live out their lives together. But Te Haeata never quite shakes off the spell, and in old age, he transforms into an eel and becomes a guardian in the Rangitaiki river.
Age
8-13
Text complexity
proficient
Length
107 pages
Book in series
#2

Why to read

  • Gain insight into the cultural significance of the story within the context of its origin.
  • Experience the unique storytelling style of the author, which may blend traditional narratives with contemporary themes.
  • Enhance understanding of the language and expressions used in the book if it includes elements of a specific dialect or indigenous language.
  • Appreciate the literary craftsmanship and the depth of characters, setting, and plot as envisioned by Peter Douglas.