Maori Myths

In Room 5 we have been reading and learning about Maori myths such as Tane and the Stars and Kahu and the Taniwha. We then created our own myths influenced by Maori culture and language.

The Fight by Sherlyn 

How the Volcanoes and Mountains came to be by Sativa

How Rugby was created by Eli

How the Moa became extinct by Torres

Kahu and the Taniwha

After reading Gavin Bishop's 'Kahu and the Taniwha' we retold this Maori myth using our own words. We focussed on describing the setting, characters and problem in the narrative.

Kahu and the Taniwha by Eli

Between Rotorua and Waikato stood a maunga. On this foggy maunga were two paths. One was a short and skinny path and the other was long and wide. When people took the short path they saw smoke rising in front of thousands of broken bones and dead trees. The short path led to a cold damp ana with no people to be seen.

In this terrible ana their lived a terrifying taniwha crunching on bones and skulls. The taniwha had wings like an enormous bat and dragon eyes. His scales deflected spears and arrows. His eyes gave people nightmares when the darkness entered their souls. His fiery breath burned the trees as he searched out his prey. His claws caught and grabbed at flesh. He cared for no one but himself.

Kahu was a young Waikato chief. He was fed up with having to take the long path to see his girlfriend, Koka in Rotorua. One day Kahu said to Koka’s father “If I convince the taniwha to go to the other side of the maunga could I marry your daughter?” In a deep voice Koka’s father replied, “Yes, let me help you. That taniwha likes scratches on his back”. The strong, smart Kahu to the taniwha’s ana and started scratching his back. “Oohh, Aargh” said the taniwha. Kahu said “If I find you a wife to scratch your back whenever you want will you move to the other side of the maunga?” The taniwha growled calmly and said “I will”.

Kahu returned to his village to find Pukaka. Pukaka was a lazy scruffy woman who had not combed her hair for over twenty years. Pukaka’a hair was messy and tangled with fleas. Kahu said “I have found you a husband, he lives on the short path to Rotorua. Pukaka replied “but there’s only a taniwha that lives there”. “That’s him” said Kahu. Pukaka thought fro a while and said “well living with that beast must be better than living in this pig sty”. So Pukaka went to the taniwha’s ana, sneaked up and started scratching his back. The taniwha said “oohh, that’s nice” when he looked he saw a revolting, dirty woman scratching his back. The taniwha said in disgust “Yuck”. Pukaka replied “but I will scratch your back whenever you want”. The taniwha then lifted up Pukaka  and went to the long path to make up his part of the deal with Kahu.

A dew weeks later Kahu married Koka in Rotorua. Kahu and Koka’s whanau celebrated with them. They all had a feast of kumara, fish and chicken. They were so happy until out of the sky the taniwha’s claws snatched Koka out of jealousy. Kahu had ferocious anger in his eyes. He gathered a group of young men to kill the taniwha. They set up a trap in the trees to finally kill the beast. Kahu went to the taniwha’s ana and mocked him. His fierce eyes stared at the taniwha and he pulled a pukana. The scaly giant chased Kahu down the maunga. As they got near the trap Kahu shouted “now”. The men pulled as hard as they could and ropes tore the taniwha’s neck.

Kahu carried Koka to her village and the people of Rotorua and the Waikato rejoiced.

Kahu and the Taniwha by Torres

Between Rotorua and Waikato stood a maunga. On this maunga there was two paths, one short and one long. On the long foggy path there was broken trees and terrified screams hung in the air. The cold misty air blew everywhere. The crows flapped furiously. They sent warning calls. On the short path there was a never ending cave. Inside that cave there was scattered and crushed bones. Outside burnt, dead grass. On the cold freezing floor lay piles of chewed clothes left with huge globs of saliva. In that terrifying ana there was a horrifying monster. It’s terribly long falcon like head could tear open a whole house. His enormous bat like wings spread from one side of the cave to the other. It’s crocodile body and tail was nearly too long for it’s habitat. His gigantic ram horns so strong, they could butt down three trees at once. His large fiery eyes were so hot with rage that they could make your body sweat with fright.

In a nearby village there lived a young Waikato chief named Kahu. Kahu was a handsome, strong and brave man. He was a very wise and fast chief. He was sick of going on the long path to visit his girlfriend Koka. One day when he was visiting Koka. He asked her father “If I persuade the taniwha to move to the other side of the mountain, will you let me marry your daughter?’’ “Very well, yes” said Koka’s father surprised that a young man could be so brave ”but let me tell you something, the taniwha likes to have it’s back scratched” So with hearing this, Kahu slowly crept towards the taniwha’s ana. Kahu slowly started to scratch his scaly back. “OOhhhhhh, a bit lower please - mmmmmm” he growled. “I can find you a wife to scratch your back everyday” said Kahu “but you must promise to move to the long path on the other side of the maunga”. “Yes, yes” replied the taniwha.

Kahu returned to his village in the Waikato to find Pukaka. She lived in a disgusting hovel with fleas hopping and mosquitoes buzzing around. Her hideous hair was covered with flies and lice crawling all over. Kahu was nearly sick just looking at her, she was the most revolting woman in his village. “I’ve found you a husband” said Kahu. “He lives on the short path to Rotorua. “But only a taniwha lives there” said Pukaka. “Mmmmmm” thought Pukaka “I suppose living with a taniwha must be better than living in this dump”. So Kahu led Pukaka to the taniwha’s cave. “Now go in and start scratching it’s back” Kahu whispered. “OOOOHhhh, Arghhhh”. The taniwha turned around to see who was scratching his back. “Oh Yuck, you are disgusting I can’t even bear to look at you” shouted the taniwha. “But I will scratch your back, whenever you want me to” said Pukaka. “Well OK” said the taniwha. So to keep his side of the bargain he flew to the long path to make a new home.

A few weeks later Kahu married Koka in Rotorua. Kahu, Koka and whanau had a fine feast of hangi and roast pork. After the wedding they headed back to Waikato. The taniwha heard the noise and flew up to see what it was. The taniwha spotted the beautiful Koka. He was jealous. He thought about the ugly Pukaka, Koka was so much more beautiful than her. So with an enormous roar the taniwha swooped down and grabbed Koka in his claws soaring back to his old ana.

Kahu was furious and heartbroken. He sent out a mob of muscular young men that had hearts brave enough to rescue Koka from the man-eating beast. When they reached the ana Kahu ran up to the taniwha. “I’ve come to get Koka” he shouted in fury. “Mwa hahahaha, don’t make me cry with laughter” said the taniwha. Kahu shot out his tongue in a pukana. Then at the speed of light he raced down the maunga. The taniwha ran after him with his terrible jaws gaping wide. Then Kahu reached the bottom of the maunga and ran into the bush. “Now” shouted Kahu and the men pulled the trap around the taniwha’s neck and chopped the beast’s head off. As soon as the monster was dead Kahu carried Koka out of the ana. The whanau was overjoyed.

Powhiri

The students of Year 4 participated in a powhiri with Matua Edwards. A powhiri is a traditional Maori welcome. Sativa and Kalani did a great karanga followed by Eli and Michael speaking on behalf of their groups. After the waiata the two groups greeted each other with a hongi.

Phrase #4

Here is Skye with this weeks phrase. Remember to encourage your whanau to try speaking Te Reo at home.

Phrase of the week #3

Here is Sativa with this week's phrase.

Marae

In Te Reo with Matua Edwards we are designing a Marae. We also discussed what is the purpose of a Marae.

Phrase of the Week #2

Kiaora Whanau here is Sativa with this week's phrase.

Pukana Challenge

This week Matua Edwards offered a wero (challenge) to the students of Room 5 to perform a fierce pukana. Leave a comment below on who you think pulled the best pukana.

Phrase of the Week #1

Kia Ora, Here is our first "Phrase of the Week" brought to you by Sativa. Please encourage your family to try this at home too.

Maori Language Week

Kia Ora

This week marks the beginning of Maori Language Week. The theme for this year is ‘Whāngaihia te Reo ki ngā Mātua’, ‘Nurture the Language in Parents’.

In class we will also be learning a ‘The Phrase of the Week’. The phrase of the week introduces a new and simple phrase each week to encourage Te Reo Māori in the home and in everyday situations.

We will be sharing the phrase of the week through our blog and twitter for you to try at home.

Matariki Celebration #5

Here is our rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Te Reo.

Matariki Celebration #4

The final game for our Matariki celebration will be Kite.

How To Play Kite

Kite is a really amazing game that the Maori people created. In our version there are two players but in other versions of this game there can be many more players. The artefact used in the traditional game is called “Ki Paua” it is made of paua shells with broken shells held inside. In our version we are using maracas.

The Game

Each person is blindfolded to begin with. They then stand about 5 metres a part. Each player must walk and rattle their maracas with each step, the players can stand still but must rattle their maracas every few seconds. The object of the game is to work your way close to your opponent and tag them before they tag you. The tagger locates the opposite player by listening to their maracas.

History

The Ki is any type of small ball. Many other Maori games use ki, which are often made of flax, wood or stone. The origin of ‘ki’ is said to come from ancient times when small woven kete were used to carry a single moa egg.

Matariki Celebration #3

A second game in our celebration will be knucklebones or Kōruru

Knuckle bones - Kōruru

How to play

Starting with one or two stones, practise throwing and catching, for example, throw and catch on the back of the hand, throw and pick up one from the ground and catch the thrown one before it hits the ground. The game is increased to playing with three stones, then four, and finally with five.

Actions for kōruru

●       Hold all five stones in one hand, throw them up in the air and catch all five stones on the back of the hand.

●       Ruru tahi (pick up ones) – Hold all five stones in one hand. Throw them up in the air to catch them. Put the caught stones (ruru) aside. Use one of the ruru to throw up in the air and sweep up one stone at a time of the fallen stones, putting each one in the ruru pile as it is successfully caught. Repeat this until all stones are in the ruru pile.

●       Ruru rua (pick up twos) – Pick up two stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.

●       Ruru toru (pick up threes) – Pick up three stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.

●       Ruru whā (pick up fours) – Pick up four stones in a single sweep until all are in the ruru pile.

The History Of Knuckle Bones

Knucklebones is played by children the world over. The game is known to Maori as koruru or ruru and is usually played with five stones. This painting is one of a series that Gottfried Lindauer painted to record Maori customs.