In search of Poutini (West Coast) Traditional Cache
Trigger_Fish: Have decided to archive this one due to flooding issues.
In search of Poutini (West Coast)
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Maori know the West Coast as Te Tai O Poutini - the coast of
Poutini. Poutini is a mythical sea creature (or taniwha) that is believed to patrol the West Coast, protecting its inhabitants.
Poutini is believed to have guided (or chased) the chief Ngahue from Hawaiki to New Zealand, landing on the West Coast and so lead to the discovery of New Zealand by the Maori. Ngahue (Kahue for Southern Maori) is an atau (God) who's mana (spiritual life force) is reflected in the essence of the Pounamu (Greenstone / Jade) stone. Poutini now patrols the West Coast as the protector of the Ngahue's mana and so you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him when you do this cache.
There are a few different variations of this legend available on the internet - so feel free to google your way through them if they interest you. I have heard him descibed as a mythical Green Fish - possibly a large Mako Shark, who could have followed an Ngahue's canoe in search of food scaps and would have posed real threat to the explorer Ngahue as he could have capsized Ngahue's canoe.
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