When I was working on my Chinese New Year collection I came across the stamps from the 2000 Spirits and Guardians issue. One of these in particular caught my attention. This was the $1.10 value. I love this stamp. Nice bright colours on a clear, well designed stamp. It really draws you in and captures your interest.
Te Hoata and Te Pupu
The Volcanic Taniwha Sisters.
This is the first of a series of posts I have done on Maori Myths and Legends.
Others include:-
2014 Matariki - Papatuanuku and Ranginui.
The parting of Papatuanuka (earth mother) from Ranginui (shy father).
1997 Millennium Series I - Discoverers.
The stories of Maui and Kupe are told in this post.
The parting of Papatuanuka (earth mother) from Ranginui (shy father).
1997 Millennium Series I - Discoverers.
The stories of Maui and Kupe are told in this post.
The tragic love-story of the sea-maiden Pania of the Reef.
Many of the Maori stories and legends of the Maori people attempt to explain the things they observe around them. In the North Island, Bay of Plenty Region, there is a line of volcanic areas stretching from Whakaari (White Island) in the waters of the Bay of Plenty all the way to the massive volcanoes of Tongariro National Park.
The story of Te Pupu and Te Haeata, the Volcanic Taniwha Sisters explains how these volcanic areas seem to extend in a line. Below are two versions of this story which I took from Te Ara - the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand and Wikipedia. Both versions are valid, as they would have come from different tribes so I felt both were worthy of inclusion here.
Ngātoroirangi and his sisters Te Hoata and Te Pupu.
In particular, the people of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, whose tribal lands are in the central North Island, have long maintained stories concerning this volcanic phenomenon. Ngātoroirangi and his sisters Te Hoata and Te Pupu.
They say that the high priest Ngātoroirangi and his sisters Te Hoata and Te Pupu were responsible for bringing fire to New Zealand from the ancestral homeland, Hawaiki. Having arrived in New Zealand on the Te Arawa canoe, Ngātoroirangi travelled inland and discovered the lake that became known as Taupōnui-a-Tia (Taupō). He continued to Onetapu, south of present-day Tūrangi, where he encountered extremely cold weather. He called out to his sisters, who came to him from Hawaiki in the form of fire under the earth, appearing above the ground at intervals and creating the geysers, hot pools and volcanoes.
Te Hoata and Te Pupu first came to Whakaari (White Island), then made their way inland. When they arrived at Taupō, they travelled southwards along the western edge of the lake before meeting their brother on Mt Tongariro. They returned northwards via the eastern side of Lake Taupō.
Ngātoroirangi and the fire-taniwha Te Hoata and Te Pupu.
Upon reaching Aotearoa Ngātoro-i-rangi left the waka at Te Awa o te Atua (near Matatā) and headed inland and eventually arrived at Taupō-nui-ā-Tia (Lake Taupō, also called Taupō Moana), and, looking southward, decided to climb the mountain nearest to him, Tauhara and looked out across Taupō-nui-ā-Tia to claim the land he saw. He reached and began to climb the first mountain along with his slave Ngāuruhoe, who had been travelling with him, and named the mountain Tongariro (the name literally meaning 'looking south'), whereupon the two were overcome by a blizzard carried by the cold south wind.
Near death, Ngātoro-i-rangi called back to his two sisters, Kuiwai and Haungaroa, who had also come from Hawaiki but remained upon Whakaari (White Island) to send him sacred fire which they had brought from Hawaiki. This they did, sending the geothermal fire in the form of two taniwha (powerful spirits) named Te Pupu and Te Haeata, by a subterranean passage to the top of Tongariro. The tracks of these two taniwha formed the line of geothermal fire which extends from the Pacific Ocean and beneath the Taupō Volcanic Zone, and is seen in the many volcanoes and hot-springs extending from Whakaari to Tokaanu and up to the Tongariro massif. The fire arrived just in time to save Ngātoro-i-rangi from freezing to death, but Ngāuruhoe was already dead by the time Ngātoro-i-rangi turned to give him the fire.
These are some of the places the sisters left their fire:
- Whakaari (White Island)
- Tarawera
- Whakarewarewa
- Tikitere
- Waimangu
- Ōrākei Kōrako
- Tokaanu
- Tongariro
Whakaari (White Island) - 18c.
Waimangu Thermal Valley (Tarawera).
Emerald Pool - 80c Warbrick Terrace - $1.50
Both these attractions in Waimangu Thermal Valley were formed after the eruption of Mt Tarawera
Whakarewarewa Thermal Area.
Pohutu Geyser - 10c & $1.80
The two views of the Pohutu Geyser above and the boiling mud pool below are views from Whakarewarewa Thermal Area in Rotorua.
Boiling Mud, Rotorua - 50c
Hakereteke Falls - $1.00
The attractions of the Waiotapu Thermal Reserve which is located half way between Rotorua and Taupo.
Champagne Pool - 45c & 10c
Tongariro National Park.
Tongariro National Park - $10.00 Mt Tongariro - $2.00
The three large volcanic mountains in the centre of the North Island.
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their web site and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Hi again Allan,
ReplyDeleteFollowing the link "Maori Legends" brought me to this post.
The Fire Taniwha or the Fire Sisters is another good story from Maori mythology.
I like the way you did this post. There was no laughing at the two different versions of this story. You gave each version the space it deserved then continued by featuring some of the places they stopped at. This variation of versions is of great interest to me. I have studied a lot about how they might have come about and where they came from.
Now a suggestion for a new post. Those stamps showing the various volcanoes and thermal regions might well be worth exploring as another page. I expect it would make an interesting collection.
Rajah.
Again, thanks Rajah.
DeleteAfter reading your comment above, this morning I decided on giving this post a quick make over.
Yes I do think both of these stories are important and both worthy of being told. That is why both were featured here. To me it was never about laughing at there being more than one version. I enjoyed comparing them and seeing how they reached the same conclusion in two different ways.
There are other stamps in the 2000 Spirits and Guardians issue that look interesting. One day I might go back a take a look at some of them and see what stories lay behind them. If you know a lot about this Rajah, maybe you could help me. The full set is in my Matariki / Maori New Year collection - Year 2000.
Allan.
Another good post Allan
ReplyDeleteI love that illustration, the bright colours makes it so exciting and vivid. I have not scene this stamp before.
Like the Indian gentleman, Rajah says; It Is correct to include both versions of this story as they add the richness of a different view. I'm sure he would have an understanding of mythology as India has an immense heritage too.
I know of another version where the sisters Kuiwai and Haungaroa, take on the form of the fire taniwha, Te Pupu and Te Haeata. Fire taniwha are known to possess great powers and usually live in volcanoes. Normally more placid than many taniwha, being happy to bath and play their pools of fire at the hearts of their volcanoes. But if disturbed they can display terrible anger. (Volcanic eruptions)
Moa.
Hi Moa.
DeleteYou mean a fire taniwha is different to a normal taniwha?
Anne
Oh this is good. My eyes have been opened to so much in the past hours from Taniwha coming with Kupu to New Zealand, through to fire taniwha. Interesting.
DeleteI have also enjoyed the comments and insights from your readers. Especially these calm and placid fire maidens bursting into terrible anger. Sounds like my partner when bring home dinner the other day.
Rodney
Thanks Rodney. I've enjoyed receiving your comments both here and on other pages.
DeleteLike you, I've found the idea of Taniwha to be an interesting subject. Especially how in some cases humans could control them while in other times they appeared, wild, angry and dangerous.
The fire taniwha are particularly interesting. Moa was the one who mentioned their sudden change in mood if disturbed. I find that rather interesting as it does describe the behavour of many of the active volcanoes of New Zealand. Quiet and content then erupting with terrible anger.
Allan
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