Poutini and Waitaiki Script
Jennae: First of all there was a legend we may have heard of. Producer Milan and Director
Jennae will inform you about this legend.
Milan: Long Long ago… there was a taniwha called Poutini. He swam up and down the rough seas
of Te Tai O Poutini protecting the people and the spiritual essence of pounamu.
Jennae: One day while Poutini was resting in the warm waters of Tuhua he saw a beautiful woman, called Waitaiki, bathing in the moana. Poutini immediately fell in aroha and he snatched Waitaiki and swam south towards the mainland.
Milan: Waitaiki’s husband, Tamaahua, was a strong chief and he was the most skilled person in the
spiritual world. When Tamaahua finally found out that Waitaiki was gone, he threw a large dart into the air;
the dart pointed in the direction that Poutini and Waitaiki were. Tamaahua and his slave quickly paddled in
their waka towards that direction
Jennae: Waitaiki and Poutini finally reached the shore at Tahanga /Taupo and Poutini lit a fire to warm
them up. When Poutini heard Tamaahua coming he grabbed Waitaiki again and took off.
Milan: The chase kept going and going all around Aotearoa. Each time they stopped somewhere new
Poutini lit an ahi.
Jennae:Waitaiki was terrified and makariri. She begged Poutini to turn around. After a lot of begging
Poutini listened to Waitaiki and carried her back up the West Coast.Tamaahua found his wife’s tears
in the waters near Piopiotahi / Milford Sound and realised that they had turned around. Those tears
are found in the greenstone known as tangiwai.
Milan: One night Tamaahua sat down and got ready for a big fight with Poutini for Waitaiki. Poutini was concerned and said to himself, “If I can’t have Waitaiki then no one can!”
Jennae: Poutini transformed Waitaiki into pounamu, and laid her down in the makariri waters of the Arahura River. High up the Arahura River there is a stream known as Waitaki Creek, the legend says that in the waters of the aahura, at this point, lies a ledge of pounamu, the body of Waitaiki.
Milan: Tamaahua set out tin the morning to fight Poutini and to claim Waitaiki back. He reached where Waitaiki was and realised what had happened. Tamaahua was devastated and returned back home without his wife.
Jennae: That concludes our story of Poutini and Waitaiki. Thank you for watching we will see you next Sunday on ABC News.
Milan and Jennae together: Kite Koe I muri
