Author Notes

The Terrible Taniwha of Timberditch is a childhood book that I was brought up on in New Zealand. Written by Joy Cowley in 1982, it is a story that has held value for decades. The Tyrannical Taniwha from Timaru is a rendition of that book with slightly futuristic lense.

Contemplation

The Tyrannical Taniwha from Timaru is a tongue-in-cheek look at the connection between myths and fear of the future. Written as a children's story with study guide notes for teachers to implement, it is created with the intention of creating space for reflection on what robots and automation are, whether they are something new, or have been around for as long as time, and intersecting this with storytelling and myths.

Having the Terminator appear in the final line of the story is to highlight the fear society can have towards robots, and who doesn't enjoy a sci-fi movie?