The legend of Araiteuru
But, more importantly, a Maori legend surrounds these mystical spheres on the South Island’s east coast. Maori legends tell of a great migration, when their ancestors travelled from their homeland of Hawaiki to Aotearoa in over 40 large wakas (canoes). Araiteuru, a famous canoe on a journey to find precious pounamu (greenstone), fell victim to a storm near Matakaea (Shag Point) and sank. The legend says the hull of the canoe became the reef, the kumara (sweet potato) it carried turned into stones and the round food baskets and water-carrying gourds transformed into the Te Kaihinaki, the Moeraki Boulders, forever petrified on Koekohe Beach.