Nama Tahi
Nama Tahi is the name of a koukou (owl) who is known in Ngati Hine to be one of the main kai tiaki (guardian). He is sometimes known as Hine Ruru in other parts of Ngati Hine and has been around since time immemorial. Nama Tahi is often seen at hui mate and will sit on various perches around the marae watching everything going on with much amusement and often swivelling his head around a full 360 degrees. He is also attracted to the many insects that are themselves attracted to the marae lights and will feast on moths and other bugs. These perches are invariably the totara tree beside the road leading up to the marae or on the tekoteko (Nukutawhiti) of Manu Koroki.Nama Tahi can also reappear in other forms and will sometimes transform into a lizard or a fantail. 
Nama Tahi is seen in other parts of Ngati Hine. For instance, he flew into the dining room of the Otiria marae (Te Puna i Keteriki) and landed on the Water Dispenser at the hui mate of Tamati Paraone.
It is a known fact that he flew into Tumatauenga at the Otiria marae and sat at the foot of a casket of one of our whanaunga lying there in state. And this was in the middle of the day!Whatever people think of koukou, Nama Tahi is seen as a positive character and is a sign of good tidings to the people of Ngati Hine
Page last updated 6 Dec 2008
