Hākawau

A famous and powerful sorcerer in Māori legend. He learned of the reputation of the sorcerers Puarata and Tautōhito who lived on Sacred Mountain and who killed all who came near their home with a deadly talisman of the Puhi a Puarata, a wooden head. Hākawau gathered all his spells and incantations and set out to destroy the power of the talisman. He besieged Sacred Mountain and let loose his benevolent spirits who attacked and destroyed the evil spirits of the other sorcerers. Once security was brought back to the district, Hākawau departed.

References

Sources

  • Grey, Sir George. (1922). Polynesian Mythology. Londen: George Routledge & Sons, pp. 205 ff.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, p. 42.