Rākaihaitū

A northern chief who explored the South Island and who was responsible for creating the great lakes there by means of an enormous digging tool with a sharpened end. These are called Ngā waipuna karikari a Rākaihaitū, the "waters dug out by Rākaihaitū."

References

Source

  • Cowan, James. (1925). Fairy Folk Tales of the Maori. Auckland: Whitcombe & Tombs, Ltd, p. 42.