Tipua

In Māori mythology, tipua or tupua are a type of differing shaped and often shape-shifting spirit or "uncanny thing".¹ Tipua were often associated with natural landmarks or phenomena but could also be more common objects; sometimes even trees and rocks² were associated as these types of spirits.

References

LIEUT COLONEL GUDGEON C.M.G. (1906). Journal of the Polynesian Society: THE TIPUA-KURA AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD. Original from the University of California: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED. p. 27.
Rakairuru Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Rangitāne o Wairarapa website.

[GUDGEON-1] LIEUT COLONEL GUDGEON C.M.G. (1906). Journal of the Polynesian Society: THE TIPUA-KURA AND OTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT WORLD. Original from the University of California: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED. p. 27.

[2] Rakairuru Archived 2010-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Rangitāne o Wairarapa website.

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