The Sound Runners of Fiordland
By Ray Drayton
"Uncover the secrets of Fiordland's ancient past – where legend meets reality."
Synopsis:
Ancient Māori named Fiordland – ‘Te Rua o Te Moko’ – Shadowland.
Mystical rainforests, rugged mountains and deep fiords. A timeless land ensconced in folklore and legend regarded by some as ‘The Land God Forgot.’ Those assumptions are wrong.
The Māori God of Dusky Sound is ‘Tamatea’… A God who resides there for eternity.
The Giant Moa, a flightless bird hunted for food by ancient Māori is now extinct.
But the ghosts of the Waitaha Tribe whose footsteps walked this land, remain.
Hemi Takanui allows his ancestors to guide him through Fiordland along forgotten secret pathways rarely visited by humans to this day. They walk together sharing the magic.
The Historical Fiction narrative relates history timelines simultaneously. Events of the day actually happened, while characters in the main are fictional but relate to real people of the time. Some, part of the legends – others, part of the evil deeds that existed in a time when human life was cheap and expendable.
Fiordland landscapes exist as described by the author who has explored these areas more than once. Timeless magic also exists. To those who are aware – the land speaks.
‘The Sound Runners of Fiordland’ tells of a darker side, a checkered history hinting of evil elements in the shadows.
Dusky Sound and the Dart Valley were portrayed as a haven for illegal poaching of valuable Greenstone known as ‘Pounamu’ by Māori. Illicit gun running supplying warring tribes’ muskets during tribal conflicts throughout violent and tumultuous times, was rife.
The taking of life and disrespect for this sacred land incurs the wrath of the Māori Gods who show displeasure at the human foibles…
“I was told by old hikers and explorers, after hiking solo through remote Fiordland, I would emerge a changed man. ‘There is far more to Fiordland than meets the eye.’
They were correct in their assumptions…”
A quote from the Author. Ray Drayton.
Mystical rainforests, rugged mountains and deep fiords. A timeless land ensconced in folklore and legend regarded by some as ‘The Land God Forgot.’ Those assumptions are wrong.
The Māori God of Dusky Sound is ‘Tamatea’… A God who resides there for eternity.
The Giant Moa, a flightless bird hunted for food by ancient Māori is now extinct.
But the ghosts of the Waitaha Tribe whose footsteps walked this land, remain.
Hemi Takanui allows his ancestors to guide him through Fiordland along forgotten secret pathways rarely visited by humans to this day. They walk together sharing the magic.
The Historical Fiction narrative relates history timelines simultaneously. Events of the day actually happened, while characters in the main are fictional but relate to real people of the time. Some, part of the legends – others, part of the evil deeds that existed in a time when human life was cheap and expendable.
Fiordland landscapes exist as described by the author who has explored these areas more than once. Timeless magic also exists. To those who are aware – the land speaks.
‘The Sound Runners of Fiordland’ tells of a darker side, a checkered history hinting of evil elements in the shadows.
Dusky Sound and the Dart Valley were portrayed as a haven for illegal poaching of valuable Greenstone known as ‘Pounamu’ by Māori. Illicit gun running supplying warring tribes’ muskets during tribal conflicts throughout violent and tumultuous times, was rife.
The taking of life and disrespect for this sacred land incurs the wrath of the Māori Gods who show displeasure at the human foibles…
“I was told by old hikers and explorers, after hiking solo through remote Fiordland, I would emerge a changed man. ‘There is far more to Fiordland than meets the eye.’
They were correct in their assumptions…”
A quote from the Author. Ray Drayton.