Lake Wakatipu Legend - Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand
Posted by: 
denben
S 45° 02.053 E 168° 39.734
59G E 315857 N 5010589
Lake Wakatipu is associated with a Maori legend of love, commitment, passion and murder.
Waymark Code: WMNA6T
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 01/29/2015
Views: 9
From experiencequeenstown.com
"Manata was the beautiful daughter of a local Maori chief, who would not let marry her beloved Matakauri. One day, Manata was kidnapped by the terrible giant, Matau. Her distraught father promised she would marry whoever could rescue her. Here was Matakauri's chance. Knowing the warm nor-wester would put the giant to sleep, he followed the wind to Matau's lair in the mountains beyond. But he could not cut the cords that trapped her. Magically, the love in Manata's sobs dissolved them and together the pair escaped.
After they married, brave Matakauri decided to make the Wakatipu safe from Matau by setting fire to the giant's bed of bracken during the next nor-wester. Fat from Matau's huge body made a fire so intense it burned a hole more than 400 metres deep. Melted snow filled it to create Lake Wakatipu.
Legend has it only his heart survived and that its continuring pulse causes the lake to regularly rise and fall. Now you know why Lake Wakatipu is shapped like a giant curled up in sleep. There you see the grave of Matau." (
visit link)
You can see the bronze sculpture of Manata in front of the Bath House Cafe on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown.
The posted coordinates were taken at the sculpture.