Characters & Creatures
He is the 13-year-old Sea Cadet, narrator, and main character who steps up to protect a creature from the sea.
Who is Charlie Tangaroa?
The powerful god of the sea who is deeply distressed by mankind's pollution and has declared war on his brother.
Who is Tangaroa?
Charlie and Robbie are doing a beach cleanup patrol at this specific New Zealand location when they find Pō-nuia.
Where is Tolaga bay?
Charlie uses his ability to dramatically detach this object to freak out and scare off littering tourists
What is a prosthetic leg?
The Māori term for a guardian or protector, a sacred responsibility Grandad says Pō-nuia chose for Charlie.
What is a kaitiaki?
This is the specific type of mythical sea creature Pō-nuia is, described in legends as a sea witch or goblin.
What is a Ponaturi?
He is the god of the forest and birds, whose protective realm Pō-nuia and other creatures flee to for sanctuary.
Who is Tāne?
This major emergency triggers a evacuation convoy to Grandad’s farm because it sits on safe, high ground.
What is a tsunami?
Pō-nuia uses this ancient word to describe Charlie because his spirit is uniquely blended from two different gods.
What is kōmitimiti?
Pō-nuia repeatedly begs Charlie, "Awhina mai," which translates to this urgent plea in English.
What is "Help me"?
She is the American tourist reading Myths and Legends of Aotearoa whose father is building the town's new port.
Who is Jenny?
According to Grandad, this god of earthquakes and volcanoes had a "meltdown" that caused the massive 7.9 midnight quake.
Who is Rūaumoko (or Rū)?
This character is hospitalized with a damaged pelvis and cuts after rolling their car down a bank during the aftershocks.
While Grandad and Robbie only hear meaningless hissing, Charlie discovers he has the special ability to hear this.
What is Pō-nuia's spoken language/thoughts?
This word means a "sign", "marker", or "symbol", which Pō-nuia uses when pointing directly at Charlie's stump.
What is a tohu?
Robbie’s army captain father who makes a dramatic return after his helicopter crashes into the ocean.
Who is Mike?
The god of war who allegedly played a trick on Charlie's family line, making his missing leg a powerful sign.
Who is Tūmatauenga? (or Tū)?
Charlie sings this traditional Māori love song/lullaby to soothe Pō-nuia while carrying her over the sand dunes.
What is "Hine e Hine"?
Charlie uncovers a massive secret about his late father's identity after noticing his feet in an old photo feature these.
What are hooked claws (like a ponaturi)?
The Māori word for the forest where Pō-nuia flees to seek out her missing parents.
What is the ngahere?
Charlie uses this traditional item belonging to Grandad to whack a male ponaturi and defend Pō-nuia at the pool.
What is a Tokotoko?
The god of weather and seasons who sides with the sea god, hurling lightning and hail at Charlie and Jenny.
Who is Tawhirimatea?
To keep her hidden from the influx of evacuated tourists, Grandad and the boys move Pō-nuia into an old bath here.
What are the shearers' quarters (or the old laundry)?
These talkative, hyperactive forest birds act as guides, actively directing Charlie and Jenny toward the waterfall
What are pīwakawaka (fantails)?
Grandad insists Charlie learn these traditional chants or poems to properly understand and communicate with nature.
What are mōteatea?