Waitoreke

Waitoreke is a mysterious otter or platypus-like creature in Māori and early European settler reports from New Zealand, described as a small, furred, aquatic mammal inhabiting rivers and lakes, especially on the South Island. Legends mention it as an elusive being with webbed feet and possibly egg-laying traits, blending Māori oral history with cryptozoological speculation. Sightings describe a shy, nocturnal swimmer, and some suggest it may be an unknown species or a cultural memory of an extinct animal. It represents the unknown in New Zealand's natural history and the blending of indigenous knowledge with colonial exploration.