Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora)
Vast shallow coastal lagoon behind a sand spit, rich in eels, flounder and wetland birds.
Location
About this audio guide
This guide to Lake Ellesmere, Te Waihora, near Christchurch follows Tūtekawa, a Ngāti Māmoe chief who fled south after a killing in the north and settled on these shallow waters. It touches on the lake's old name as a fish basket, the flounder and eels that made it famous, and the Ngāi Tahu warriors who came looking for him. Best heard looking out over the water toward the hills of Banks Peninsula.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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