a creature that lives in hidden places or deep water, and that both protects and is harmful to people, according to the stories and beliefs of Maoris (= one of the original people of New Zealand)

Each tribal group may have a taniwha of its own. 每个部落都有自己的水精灵。

The daughter of Mahu was drowned by her father and turned into a taniwha. 玛湖的女儿被她的父亲淹死，化为塔尼瓦。