While on a webinar with Tourism New Zealand, the speaker mentioned this book as he was describing the thermal regions, lakes and unique landscapes of the regions.
Legends of Rotorua by A.W. Reed is a wonderful collection of stories passed down by the Maori people of New Zealand. Translated by historians, these tales describe the regions of the local areas and combine them with fantastic tales of tribes and locations.
Tourists and visitors to Rotorua often enquire if there are Maori stories and legends to account for the natural phenomena. The thermal region is indeed the home of myths and legends, and many of them are recounted in this collection. Some of them are well-known and have become a part of the heritage of Maori literature and tradition in New Zealand. There is a popular tale of Hinemoa and Tutanekai, as well as many others, some of them not well-known, which are equally worthy of preservation… This book, complimented by Dennis Turner’s illustrations, brings to life the oral history of this historic region.”
This book is filled with wonderful tales of legends and people associated with the different regions. I absolutely loved the story and illustrations of Hinemoa and Tutanekai with their lovers woes and beautiful ending. “The dawn stood still and the waves were silent in that moment of union as the lovers melted in their first embrace”.
There are also many detailed descriptions of the lakes and mountains. They are beautifully described and cures your wonderlust in reading the descriptions. “Okataina is a starfish of a lake, with long arms, tucked between Rotorua, Rotoiti and Tarawera.” Then ending of the book also has a glossary for the names of the thermal regions accompanied by brief descriptions of the locations. This is so helpful especially when planning your next trip to New Zealand!
“Beauty, not only in the forested hills and the restless waves of the necklace of lakes, but in the minds of men who created so many stories to explain Wai-ora-a-Tane ~ the living water of the forest god.”
