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Photo courtesy of ngaitahu.iwi.nz |
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Scattered across South Canterbury
is approximately 300 sites of Maori Rock Art dating back to the
16th Century. Within 20 minutes of Kavanagh House is some of the
most fascinating of these sites. The Maori hunters and gatherers
recreated the world around themselves on the rock surface, drawing
their dogs, moas (New Zealand's massive extinct eagle), and
creatures straight from Maori mythology in red ochre, charcoal
and white on the smooth limestone that is a feature of the region.
An impressive piece of work is the Opihi 'Taniwha' (Maori for monster).
There is also a site at Craigmore (30 minutes from Timaru), located
in a QE II Trust area. For details of sites, contact Central South
Island Tourism (see link page).
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