Ureia

A tāniwha or water-goblin dwelling at Hauraki. He was a tribal spirit or mascot (mauri) belonging to the Ngāti-tamatera. Ureia was decoyed to the Manakau Harbour by another tāniwha named Haumia, and was killed there after being entangled in a net of ropes.

According to another account,1 the men of the Tainui canoe slew the monster at Puponga, Manukau.

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References

Notes

  1. White, John. (1887). Ancient History of the Maori. 6 vols. Wellington: G, Disbury, pp. 5:76, 78.

Sources

  • Shortland, Edward. (1856). Traditions and Superstitions of the New Zealanders. London: Longmans Green, p. 76.
  • Tregear, Edward. (1891). Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary. Wellington: Government Printer, p. 578.