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| Pania of the Reef; Hawkes Bay NZ | |
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| Topic Started: May 2 2011, 06:04 PM (471 Views) | |
| Kahu | May 2 2011, 06:04 PM Post #1 |
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Pania of the Reef Pania of the Reef was a beautiful maiden who lived in the sea on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. By 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. Karitoki, the very handsome son of a Mâori 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. Pania of the Reef Legend Pania of the Reef song |
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| agate | May 3 2011, 03:50 AM Post #2 |
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Nice story. There are many such stories that run through different areas of the world. Tells me how much we are the same the world over. |
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| Dana | May 3 2011, 04:18 AM Post #3 |
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WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire
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With not nearly so romantic a tale nor statue so Joyful, tho there is one of a female in a wet suit nearby - it's the colder water, uno, here is a tale about a rock in Stanley Park in Vancouver, with a couple of images to click to, below the inset. http://www.venturevancouver.com/image/story-of-siwash-rock-information-board-legend Your story about Pania reminded me of this rock, Siwash Rock, at the edge of Vancouver's harbour. I haven't seen it for at least 20 yrs now. Pania's life would have appealed to me at any time in my own life, especially in a warmer climate! That is New Zealand Flax, the Phormia? and not our northern flax from which we harvest seeds that Pania would rest in, right? That I have tried growing here but without success. Thanks for sharing this lovely tale and image about Pania. |
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| Kahu | May 3 2011, 10:41 AM Post #4 |
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I always say we're much more alike than different! |
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| Kahu | May 3 2011, 03:12 PM Post #5 |
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The tales are pretty well universal aren't they? Pania Reef was a prime fishing ground for Maori within this district .... but since the earthquake in 1931 and commercial fishing things are not as plentiful they once were. The Napier Earthquake in 1931 was our worst loss of lives in a natural disaster, Christchurch 2010-11 has been the most expensive in terms of property and infrastructure damage. Napier has been rebuilt in an Art Nouveau style of which they're very proud. The general name for NZ Flax is Harakeke ....... Phormium tenax (NZ Flax) is not a true flax, it's a lilly, which grows from the North Cape to the Bluff, from sea level beaches right up into the alpine snows. There are several species and many hybrids nowadays ...... and they're great for attracting nectar eating birds into your garden. The flax seeds are collected for cold pressing into oil and they are available in health shops. Harakeke http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosystematics/plants/harakeke/ Harakeke 3rd Ed pdf http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosystematics/plants/Harakeke_3rdEd.pdf |
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5:41 AM Jul 14