Taniwhas on Twitter

Michael Field at Stuff reports:

Horotiu, the potentially blocking the tracks of Auckland's multi-billion dollar rail dream, is the latest celebrity to open a Twitter account.

The taniwha has also gone global, with London's Daily Telegraph headlining: “‘Swamp monster' threatens Auckland railway project”.

Drawing on a Stuff story, the Telegraph quotes Glenn Wilcox, a member of the Auckland City Council's Maori Statutory Board, demanding protection for Horotiu.

“As kaitiaki, or guardians, they protect people, but they also get up and bite you if they do not like what you are doing,” Mr Wilcox said.

On Twitter the debate has sparked two new accounts – TaniwhaHorotiu and HorotiuTaniwha.

The first carries an early complaint that taniwha do not make an list of mythical creatures.

The two twitter accounts have even been chatting to each other Some of the tweets have been:

Steven Joyce's quote was superb:

Transport Steven Joyce said appeared to be plagued by taniwha.

“It does not massively surprise me,” he said. “Treasury found a few fiscal as well, so it doesn't surprise me that another one has turned up.”

I think the term “fiscal taniwha” should be adopted by Treasury for use in all future case evaluations.