The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour, by Moira Wairama, retells the legend of Whātaitai and Ngake.

Whātaitai and Ngake are two taniwha who live in a beautiful lake. But one day Ngake breaks free to the ocean and leaves his friend behind. His actions have far-reaching consequences that shape the landscape of Wellington; Aotearoa's capital city.

Discover the legend of how Wellington Harbour was created in this beautifully illustrated paperback. If you have seen the dramatic Pepper's Ghost rendition of this legend at Wellington Museum then this book is the perfect souvenir.

Written by Moira Wairama
Illustrated by Bruce Potter
Paperback book
Suggested level: 5-9 years old
ISBN: 9780143504498

Moira Wairama is a published poet, playwright, storyteller, performer and kura kaupapa teacher, and an award-winning children’s book author. She writes in both English and Māori, and bilingual retellings of Māori legends are one of her specialties. The Taniwha of Wellington Harbour/Nga Taniwha i te Whanga-nui-a-tara won a Storylines Notable Non-fiction award and the LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award in 2012. Moira lives in Wellington with her partner, performer Tony Hopkins, and they are co-founders of Soul Food Tellers, performing stories for audiences of all ages.