Retold by Douglas
Many years ago Tanemahuta
was walking through the creepy forest.He was watching his children trying to reach the dark blue sky and he saw that they were weak and sick. The bugs were eating them.
Tanemahuta called his brother and told him that the bugs were eating his children. Then Tanehokahoka called a meeting with the birds.He asked them to help Tanemahuta by living on the forest floor and looking after Tanemahuta’s children.
No one spoke. The Tui looked up at the tree and he saw the sun passing by. Then he looked down at the forest floor and saw the dark cold icy floor and he got scared. The Tui refused to come down.
The Pukeko looked at the forest floor and saw that the forest floor was cold and damp. He did not want to wet his feet so he also refused to come down.
Pipiwharauroa was busy building his nest so he did not want to come down as well.
The Kiwi looked at the sun and then at his family. Then he looked at the damp forest floor and said that he would come down and live on the forest floor. Tanemahuta and Tanekokahoka felt very happy because the kiwi had decided to come down and live on the forest floor.
Tanemahuta warned the Kiwi that he would lose his beautiful coloured feathers and has to grow strong feet to rip logs apart.
The Kiwi looked at the sun said a silent goodbye.
Then Tanehokahoka turned to the other birds and he cursed them.The Tui had to wear two white feathers to show that he was a coward.Pukeko was sent to the swamp.
Pipiwharauroa was never allowed to build his nest again and lay its eggs in another bird’s nest.
He blessed the Kiwi because he was grateful and he sacrificed his family to live with Tanemahuta’s children. The Kiwi became the most well known and loved birds of them all.
Many years ago Tanemahuta
was walking through the creepy forest.He was watching his children trying to reach the dark blue sky and he saw that they were weak and sick. The bugs were eating them.
Tanemahuta called his brother and told him that the bugs were eating his children. Then Tanehokahoka called a meeting with the birds.He asked them to help Tanemahuta by living on the forest floor and looking after Tanemahuta’s children.
No one spoke. The Tui looked up at the tree and he saw the sun passing by. Then he looked down at the forest floor and saw the dark cold icy floor and he got scared. The Tui refused to come down.
The Pukeko looked at the forest floor and saw that the forest floor was cold and damp. He did not want to wet his feet so he also refused to come down.
Pipiwharauroa was busy building his nest so he did not want to come down as well.
The Kiwi looked at the sun and then at his family. Then he looked at the damp forest floor and said that he would come down and live on the forest floor. Tanemahuta and Tanekokahoka felt very happy because the kiwi had decided to come down and live on the forest floor.
Tanemahuta warned the Kiwi that he would lose his beautiful coloured feathers and has to grow strong feet to rip logs apart.
The Kiwi looked at the sun said a silent goodbye.
Then Tanehokahoka turned to the other birds and he cursed them.The Tui had to wear two white feathers to show that he was a coward.Pukeko was sent to the swamp.
Pipiwharauroa was never allowed to build his nest again and lay its eggs in another bird’s nest.
He blessed the Kiwi because he was grateful and he sacrificed his family to live with Tanemahuta’s children. The Kiwi became the most well known and loved birds of them all.
Now Tanemahuta’s children have Kiwis as their protector.
