Poo-poo?

Although I had heard of Pupu Springs in New Zealand, I was not really aware of the facts. Now that water has become such an important issue for us, not only in the rural areas but also in the towns where restrictions will probably be put in place unless substantial rainfall is received, I remembered the springs with the strange name. Here are some of the details:

The Te Waikoropupu Springs ('Pupu Springs') are located in Golden Bay, on the South Island.  The springs are known for the clarity of the water, and the volume of water discharged. The springs are spiritually significant to the Maori people.

The springs are notable for the volume of water discharged from the eight main vents. It is estimated that 14,000 litres of water are produced per second, approximately enough to fill 40 bathtubs. In a 1974 television documentary, it was noted that this would be enough water to supply a city the size of Boston Massachusetts. The floor of the lake is covered with white sand. Waters expelled from some of the smaller vents carry the sand upward. These vents are known as the 'dancing sands', which for the few scuba divers who have secured permission to dive in the springs, is one of the highlights of underwater sightseeing.

The Springs have been registered as Whai Tapu with the Maori Heritage Council of the NZ Historic Places Trust. Waikoropupu is the legendary home of the female taniwha, Huriawa, one of the three main taniwha of Aotearoa. She is a diver of land and sea, travelling deep beneath the earth to clear blocked waterways. She is brave and wise and believed to still rest in the waters of Waikoropupu, when she is not away attending to business.