Milford Sound was known to the Maori, who named it Piopiotahi - the single piopio, a now extinct bird. The name derives from a legend about the last endeavour of Maui-tikitiki-a-Taranga, the great Polynesian demi-god. Maui set off from Hawaiki accompanied by a piopio, in an attempt to gain immortality for mankind. To achieve his goal, he had to enter the womb of Hinenui-te-Po (the goddess of death), travel through her body and emerge from her mouth. After Maui’s failure and death, the piopio who had witnessed the tragedy, fled south to Milford Sound to mourn for the death of its mate
According to another Maori Legend, Piopiotahi was carved out by Tu-te-raki-whanoa, an atua (godly figure) who was given the task of shaping the Fiordland coast. Chanting a powerful karakia (prayer), he hacked at the towering rock walls with his toki (adze) called Te Hamo. As he worked his way up the coast from south to north his hand improved steadily, and Milford Sound, his final work, was also his masterpiece . The goddess Hinenui-te-Po is held responsible for releasing sandflies into Milford Sound, to prevent human kind from lingering too long in such a beautiful place!
Today our erstwhile travel companion Dick was in charge of providing perfect weather which he managed with effortless aplomb!
WE had just the right mix of rain and misty cloud and roaring waterfalls and ocean swell to truly appreciate this wildly untamed beauty.
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