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Story: Taniwha

Āraiteuru

Āraiteuru

Āraiteuru is the famed taniwha represented on this stamp. She is said to have arrived in New Zealand with the early voyaging canoes, and her 11 sons are credited with creating the various branches of the Hokianga Harbour.

Using this item

New Zealand Post

Reference: 2000 Spirits and Guardians stamp issue

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Basil Keane, Taniwha – Taniwha of the sea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/postage-stamp/10864/araiteuru (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Basil Keane, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Yolanda Guajardo
22 January 2014
well i got this book from a store name guardian of the dead by karen healey and like the book very much and the guy in the book trun to a taniwha. thank you .
Ronan
11 March 2013
how do taniwha behave