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Story: Ngā manu – birds

Tīwaiwaka (fantail)

Some people consider the tīwaiwaka (fantail) a harbinger of death when seen inside a house. In one story, the bird was responsible for the death of the trickster Māui when he tried to overcome Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of death.

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Natural History New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Kelly Keane. 'Ngā manu – birds', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 25-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/nga-manu-birds/2/5