Statue of Pania

In Maori Polynesian mythology, Pania Of The Reef was a beautiful maiden who lived in the sea on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Download high resolution version (500x683, 85 KB)Pania. ... Download high resolution version (500x683, 85 KB)Pania. ... Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ... Polynesia is a triangle of islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ...

During daylight she swam about with creatures of her reef world but after sunset would go to a stream that ran into the bay where the city of Napier now exists. She would travel up the stream to an area where she could rest among the flax bushes. A reef surrounding an islet. ... The word Napier has several possible meanings in the English language. ... Binomial name Phormium tenax New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), known as Harakeke by New Zealand Maori for many centuries, was and still is one of the most versatile plants on earth. ...

Karitoki, the very handsome son of a Maori chief, quenched his thirst every evening at the stream where Pania rested because it had the sweetest water. He was unaware she was observing him for many weeks until one night she whispered a faint spell. It carried on the wind to Karitoki who turned around to see Pania emerge from her hiding place. Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ...

Karitoki had never see someone so beautiful and instantly fell in love. Pania fell in love also, and they pledged their lives to each other and were secretly married. Pania and Karitoki went to his whare (house), but because it was dark no-one saw them enter. At sunrise, Pania prepared to leave but Karitoki tried to stop her. She explained that as a creature of the ocean, when the sirens of the sea called her each morning, she could not survive if she did not go to them. She promised to return every evening and their marriage continued on that basis.

Karitoki boasted to his friends about his beautiful wife, but no one believed him because they had never seen her. Frustrated by this, Karitoki consulted a kaumatua (wise elder) in the village who believed Karitoki as he knew ocean maidens did exist. The kaumatua told Karitoki that being a sea creature, Pania would not be allowed to return to the sea if she swallowed cooked food.

Pania of the Reef at night.

That night, as Pania slept, Karitoki took a morsel of cooked food and put it in Pania's mouth. As he did so, Ruru the morepork (owl) called a loud warning and Pania was startled from her sleep. Horrified that Karitoki had put her life in jeopardy, Pania fled from the whare and ran to the sea. Her people came to the surface and drew her down into the depths as Karitoki swam frantically about the ocean looking for her. He never saw her again. Pania of the Reef at night. ... Pania of the Reef at night. ... Binomial name Ninox novaeseelandiae ( Gmelin, 1788) The Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae) is a small brown owl found mainly in New Zealand and the more fertile and temperate parts of Australia. ... Jump to: navigation, search Families Strigidae Tytonidae An owl is any of some 200+ species of solitary, mainly nocturnal birds of prey in the order Strigiformes. ...

When people now look deep into the water over the reef, some say they can see Pania with arms outstretched, appealing to her former lover. It is unknown whether she is imploring him to explain his treachery, or expressing her continuing love. A statue of Pania which graces the Marine Parade seafront today is much photographed by tourists.

The sea off Napier is now protected by Moremore, the son of Pania and Karitoki. He is the kaitiaki (guardian) of the area, a taniwha (spirit) who often disguises himself as a shark, a stingray or an octopus. A Taniwha (IPA: ) is a legendary monster said by the Maori to live in the ocean and inland waters of New Zealand, hiding in deep pools, rivers, lakes, and dark caves. ... Jump to: navigation, search Orders Hexanchiformes Squaliformes Pristiophoriformes Squatiniformes Heterodontiformes Orectolobiformes Carcharhiniformes Lamniformes Sharks are a group (superorder Selachimorpha) of fish, with a full cartilaginous skeleton, a streamlined body plan with between 5 and 7 gill slits along the sides (most often) or side of the head (the first modified... Jump to: navigation, search Genera Dasyatis Himantura Pastinachus Pteroplatytrygon Taeniura Urogymnus Stingrays are rays in the family Dasyatidae. ... Jump to: navigation, search Families 14 in two suborders, see text. ...

On the 27th October 2005 the statue was was stolen from its mounting[1].