Tawake-tara

A man-eating tāniwha who of old held sway under the shadow of the west side of Pirongia mountain. He was responsible for the disappearance of a number of travelers. As, however, no man of rank had as yet disappeared, very little stir was made about it, but when a young chief called Te Kiritara was missed, the tribe sent out two famous warriors to investigate. These two, called Te Whatu and Te Naupaka, caught the tāniwha in the act of devouring a victim and promptly dispatched it.

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