Coin Profile: NZ’s “Dwelling Taniwha” Series Reveals New Creature
A fearsome forest spirit from Māori legend takes tangible form on New Zealand’s newest $1 silver proof coin—an artful tribute to the mystical taniwha of Aotearoa.
From the dense canopy of a forest in Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand), a green creature emerges on a new 2026 coin.
The form revealed on this new issue is a mythological Māori creature known as a forest taniwha. Made for New Zealand’s “Dwelling Taniwha” series, the frightening image depicts the creature in its natural habitat, in the depths of nature’s darkness within the te ao wairua (the spiritual realm). When appearing to humans, taniwha look like terrestrial beings or earthly elements, such as wood, wind, water, or stone, and possess powers that can bring fortune or hardship to those they encounter. Stories abound about the taniwha in Māori culture, including traditional waiata (songs) and haka (dances) dedicated to telling, or warning, about these spiritual beings.
For 2026, a taniwha has found its way from the forest to a NZ$1 commemorative 1-ounce mirror proof finish coin, issued for New Zealand and minted by BH Mayer’s Kunstprägeanstalt GmbH. The .999 silver and 40-millimeter coin shows the mythical creature through a colored engraving by New Zealand artist Dave Burke. Like the magical being, this taniwha coin is quite elusive, as only 750 issues have been minted.
This isn’t the first sighting of a taniwha on a New Zealand coin. The “Dwelling Taniwha” series includes 2024 “Cave Taniwha” and 2025 “Water Taniwha” issues available in multiple metal denominations and qualities, all with illustrations by Burke. The 2026 “Forest Taniwha” release also offers a 2026 NZ$10 1-ounce gold proof.
For more information, visit collectables.nzpost.co.nz.
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