The Stone Collector
Long ago, in the depths of the Punakaiki river, there lived a taniwha named Mātānawe.
She ruled the flow of the Punakaiki river and was the holder of the stones. Mātānawe had three
kowhai eyes and rua small wings. She lived in a small cave near where the sea washed in.
Mātānawe loved to collect stones. The cave where she lived was made out of all the different stones
Mātānawe had collected. Mātānawe was a small taniwha and had never left the Punakaiki river
since she had came here with her father but she could barely remember that.
She ruled the flow of the Punakaiki river and was the holder of the stones. Mātānawe had three
kowhai eyes and rua small wings. She lived in a small cave near where the sea washed in.
Mātānawe loved to collect stones. The cave where she lived was made out of all the different stones
Mātānawe had collected. Mātānawe was a small taniwha and had never left the Punakaiki river
since she had came here with her father but she could barely remember that.
One day when Mātānawe was watching the seagulls swoop around each other she saw a small
girl wandering alone. She looked young. Mātānawe guessed she was about 8. The young girl
walked closer to the river. This scared Mātānawe and she silently hid under the rocks at the
bottom of the river. No one had ever seen Mātānawe before and she never wanted anyone to.
After about 10 minutes Mātānawe slipped out from her hiding spot and poked her head out of the
water. Mātānawe carefully looked around and couldn’t see her so she came out even more.
girl wandering alone. She looked young. Mātānawe guessed she was about 8. The young girl
walked closer to the river. This scared Mātānawe and she silently hid under the rocks at the
bottom of the river. No one had ever seen Mātānawe before and she never wanted anyone to.
After about 10 minutes Mātānawe slipped out from her hiding spot and poked her head out of the
water. Mātānawe carefully looked around and couldn’t see her so she came out even more.
Then she looked down and saw that the girl was still there, staring up at her. The girl screamed
but didn’t move. “What is your name Taniwha?” the girl asked . “M... M... Mātānawe,”
Mātānawe mumbled.
but didn’t move. “What is your name Taniwha?” the girl asked . “M... M... Mātānawe,”
Mātānawe mumbled.
“Well my name is Aroha and I live just up the hill you can see my house it is the small mā one, see”
Aroha explained.
Aroha explained.
“ Ae, I see is that your whaea waving to you?” Mātānawe asked
“ Ae, well I hope I can see you tomorrow Mātānawe!” Aroha yelled as she ran home to her
whanau. Mātānawe feel asleep thinking about what had happened today.
whanau. Mātānawe feel asleep thinking about what had happened today.
The next morning Mātānawe woke up with a start. “Mātānawe, Mātānawe wake up, I’m here”
Aroha was shouting from the other side of the river. Her long parauri (brown) hair blowing in
the wind. Mātānawe got up slowly and swam across the river and poked her head out the water.
“Hi Mātānawe do you want to play?” Aroha asked sweetly. “Ok why not” Mātānawe said not
sounding so convinced. Aroha jumped into the water and swam down to the other side of the river
where Mātānawe slept. Aroha looked through the cave and found Mātānawes stone collection.
“Wow you have soooo many stones Mātānawe” Aroha said.” Her eyes kikorangi (blue) eyes were
twinkling with delight. Aroha slowly wandered out of the cave and jumped into the water with
a splash.
Aroha was shouting from the other side of the river. Her long parauri (brown) hair blowing in
the wind. Mātānawe got up slowly and swam across the river and poked her head out the water.
“Hi Mātānawe do you want to play?” Aroha asked sweetly. “Ok why not” Mātānawe said not
sounding so convinced. Aroha jumped into the water and swam down to the other side of the river
where Mātānawe slept. Aroha looked through the cave and found Mātānawes stone collection.
“Wow you have soooo many stones Mātānawe” Aroha said.” Her eyes kikorangi (blue) eyes were
twinkling with delight. Aroha slowly wandered out of the cave and jumped into the water with
a splash.
Aroha swam down to the bottom and brought back a small stone “Here you go mātānawe you
can have this stone to remember me it is my favourite stone in the river there are a lot of them
but this one is for you” Aroha smiled as she handed it over. All of a sudden a huge wave washed
in and swept up Aroha and took here out to sea. Aroha screamed as she grabbed onto a boulder
to stop herself from going any further out to sea. Aroha climbed onto the boulder as the waves
lapped at her ankles. “Help me Mātānawe!” Aroha screamed. Mātānawe heard and caught a
wave out to the boulder Aroha was on. A giant wave washed over them both. Aroha slipped
and washed further out to sea. Mātānawe swam out further to go find Aroha. After a long
anxious hour Mātānawe finally found Aroha but it was too late.
can have this stone to remember me it is my favourite stone in the river there are a lot of them
but this one is for you” Aroha smiled as she handed it over. All of a sudden a huge wave washed
in and swept up Aroha and took here out to sea. Aroha screamed as she grabbed onto a boulder
to stop herself from going any further out to sea. Aroha climbed onto the boulder as the waves
lapped at her ankles. “Help me Mātānawe!” Aroha screamed. Mātānawe heard and caught a
wave out to the boulder Aroha was on. A giant wave washed over them both. Aroha slipped
and washed further out to sea. Mātānawe swam out further to go find Aroha. After a long
anxious hour Mātānawe finally found Aroha but it was too late.
Mātānawe slowly swam back to her cave cradling Aroha in his arms. Mātānawe put Aroha
down and casts a spell to turn Aroha to stone. Mātānawe did this to remember Aroha and to
remind Mātānawe to protect swimmers and stop them from getting washed out to see.
You can still find Aroha inside Mātānawe cave at Punakaiki river. You may also see
Mātānawe watching and protecting swimmers and the river.
down and casts a spell to turn Aroha to stone. Mātānawe did this to remember Aroha and to
remind Mātānawe to protect swimmers and stop them from getting washed out to see.
You can still find Aroha inside Mātānawe cave at Punakaiki river. You may also see
Mātānawe watching and protecting swimmers and the river.
- Sasha
