Ngāi Tahu consider Lake Wakatipu a sacred part of their ancestral heritage, but the lake is also a scientific phenomenon. Known as the ‘lake that breathes’, Lake Wakatipu features its very own ‘tide’, despite being landlocked. So, what is the answer to the breathing lake and what does a terrible giant have to do with it?
Many years ago there was a chief who had a very beautiful daughter called Manata. Many young men wanted to marry her, including a young warrior, Matakauri, who was Manata's sweetheart. Manata's father, however, would not let the couple marry as he thought Matakauri was unworthy.
One day a terrible taniwha (giant) named Matau came and stole Manata. The chief was heartbroken and said that anyone who rescued his daughter could marry her. Even the strongest of the young warriors quailed at the prospect of fighting the taniwha, however Matakauri's love was strong that he set out in search of the taniwha. After finding Matau in the mountains he observed that whenever a nor'wester blew, the taniwha went to sleep. While Matau slept Matakauri crept close and found Manata but she was tied to the taniwha with a strong cord. Manata sobbed bitterly, so great was her love for Matakauri. The tears fell on the cord, the love in them dissolving it.
Together the pair fled and as promised the chief allowed the couple to marry.
Matau, however, was still resident in the mountains and Matakauri decided to deal with him once and for all. He waited until there was a strong nor'west wind and the taniwha was asleep and then set alight the bracken bed that Matau was sleeping on. Flames surrounded Matau, the fat from his burning body making the flames even more fierce, burning a hole deep in the ground. The fire also melted the snow on the hills and water poured in filling the hole left by Matau's burnt body. If you look at the outline of Lake Wakatipu you can see that it resembles the shape of a person lying down, the shape of a giant.
The only part of the taniwha's body that didn't burn was his heart, which continues to beat to this day.