Hānau Pūtahi (ˈhaː.naʉ ˈpuː.ta.hi)

Hānau Pūtahi is a coastal lagoon located on the southwestern coast of Atu Motu. During low tide, the entire lagoon empties into the sea, exposing a vast tidal flat with hundreds of pools, large and small. As the tide rolls in, seawater floods the lagoon, creating a basin that reflects the sky above. The lagoon teems with all sorts of life; molluscs and crabs are common, and seabirds gather in huge flocks on the flats. Small fish dart about in the pools, along with eels and rays. Some marine animals even walk from pool to pool, like the black-spotted shark and the whekopū, a small octopus known to travel long distances out of the water. Starfish and anenomes fill the pools with color, and tiny storm jellies will sometimes drift up from the pools in clouds, flickering with tiny bolts of lightning.

Hānau Pūtahi is considered sacred by both the Tāngata and the Mu'o'a people. According to the Tāngata, the patterns left in the sand as the sea recedes bear prophetic meaning, although learning to read them can be a lifelong endeavor. The Fai Tala shamans of the Mu'o'a know that it is a Wild Place, and that some of the pools are deep enough to provide access to The Dream if you try to reach their bottom.

Notable Spirits

The Atua of Hānau Pūtahi is named Whakatū. Whakatū manifests as an enormous crab, with pools of water in depressions in their shell. These pools are filled with living things that have magical powers, and sometimes the Atua will gift a mortal with one of these creatures to aid them. Whakatū stands for the unity of the natural world, bringing together the realms of sea, earth, and sky into an interconnected whole. Whakatū also unites the Atua and the Aku, and the Mu'o'a name the god Tupufa'aku.

Geography

Hānau Pūtahi is a huge coastal lagoon, formed where two rivers have carved a shallow basin near the sea. There are five barrier islands that line the seaward edge of the lagoon, and during tidal shifts, the currents between the islands are strong enough to drag boulders across the seabed. The total area of the lagoon can varies at different times of year, reaching a maximum size of about 450 square miles in the wet season, and shrinking to about 350 square miles during the dry season. There are several islands within the lagoon itself that are never covered over by water. The largest of these is called Pāreārai, and covers about 8 square miles, and is home to a small hapū dedicated to Whakatū.

Alternative Name(s)

Fānau Fa'atasi

Type

Gulf / Lagoon

Location under

Atu Motu

Geographic Details

Location: Southern Region
Latitude: 5.43 degrees South
Longitude: 0.47 degrees East 
Maximum Depth: 13.8 ft
Area: 350 to 450 sq mi (depending on the season)