Taniwha Levitation (Waikato) Traditional Cache
Taniwha Levitation (Waikato)
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CAUTION PLEASE - TOO MANY HAVE NOT READ THE DESCRIPTON BELOW AND SPOILT THIS CACHE!
NO physical force is required to access the cache. PLEASE DO NOT TUG at anything, or you will compromise the cache!
NO FISHING PLEASE!
Waikato of a hundred taniwha
At every bend a taniwha can be found.
The Waikato River is New Zealand’s longest. Its headwaters arise on Mt Ruapehu, just south of Turangi, and merge with Lake Taupo via the Waikato Stream. At times the Waikato current can be seen making its way through the water of the lake. The river proper begins at an outlet from the lake near the town of Taupo. It flows through the northern Taupo region into Waikato, and through the city of Hamilton, before reaching the sea at Port Waikato.
A creature of many forms.
Taniwha are supernatural creatures whose forms and characteristics vary according to different tribal traditions. Though supernatural, in the Maori world view they were seen as part of the natural environment. Taniwha have been described as fabulous monsters that live in deep water. Others refer to them as dragons – many taniwha looked like reptiles, had wings and ate people. They could also take the shape of animals such as sharks, whales, octopuses; the Maori name for the Great white shark is Mango-taniwha.
Some taniwha could change their shape, moving between different forms.
Taniwha were either male or female. They usually lived in or near the water – lakes, rivers or the sea. They hid in lairs known as rua taniwha, which could be deep pools, caves, or dangerous waterways – areas that people avoided. In some traditions, taniwha were terrifying creatures that captured people and ate them. In rivers they tend to look more like a gecko or a tuatara, having a row of spines along the back, or a log that acts strangely, such as moving against the current.
Occasionally, it was said that they would kidnap women to live with them as wives. These monsters would inevitably be killed and the women returned to their families.
Others were kaitiaki, or protectors of iwi (tribes) and hapu (sub-tribes). These ones were respected, and people who passed by their dens would say the appropriate karakia (charm) and leave an offering, often a green twig..
This cache is placed where you can view the Mighty Waikato.
Log only cache, bring a pen. Log your name and date only.
To access the cache and log it you will need to call upon the resources of the Waikato. The log will be checked regularly, and those not leaving a physical log entry, may find their online log deleted.
NO physical force is required to access the cache. PLEASE DO NOT TUG at anything, or you will compromise the cache!
You will require something to retrieve the cache - Not a hammer, spanner or fishing line, but something more fluid! What is it? Read the cache description carefully and it will reveal itself.,
An acknowledgement to KiwiNomad for the inspiration for this and the permission to base a cache on one of his great cache hides.
Logging Etiquette: Geocache hiders sometimes go through a great deal of planning to place their caches. As a result, they'd like to hear your feedback on whether you liked or disliked any aspect of the hide, or if you feel that some cache maintenance is required.
Single word, acronym, or emoticon logs may be easier when you have a lot of caches to log, but it doesn't tell the hider or other finders anything about your adventure (or lack thereof) in finding the cache. Please keep this in mind when entering your log.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[An item is required! Most cachers will carry this with them especially on hot days - Check cache name, and use the resources of the Mighty Waikato. Call the taniwha. Must levitate (rise) to reveal the cache. No brute force PLEASE!]