South Island

Māori Myths

image of south island

The South Island of New Zealand

Once Māui and his brothers fished up the North Island, their canoe became the South Island. The stern is the southern tip of the South Island, while the prow is the north. When Maui had caught his big fish which was the North Island, he was standing on the Kaikōura Peninsula. Which is called Te Taumanu-o-te-waka, with Stewart Island as the anchor.