Long, long ago there was a lady who was called Huria Matenga. She lived in the top of a pa with her husband Hemi and her friends. They were very nice and strong swimmers.
One morning Huria Matenga woke up to the most horrifying storm she had ever seen. She saw that there was a ship in trouble. The ship’s name was the Delaware. Finally Huria, hemi and their friends made it to the beach. They could see that the people on the ship were in trouble and calling out for help. The captain threw a rope so that everyone could get off the ship safely.Luckily there was the strongest swimmer who was called Henry Squirrell on the ship. He held onto the rope as hard as he could but the humungous waves of the sea smashed Henry Squirrell against the rocks. The crew of the ship pulled him back to the ship and laid him on one of the bunks inside the ship. Everyone thought he was dead. After that Huria, hemi and their friends plunged into the water. They swam to reach the rope. They yelled to the people on the ship to climb down the rope. The captain was the last person the leave the ship.
When everyone was off the ship they were very surprised to see Henry Squirrell standing on the boat, calling out for help. They couldn’t save him now because the rope was gone. Everyone was shocked to see that they could not save their friend. Soon after Henry Squirrell was thrown off and the ship was smashed to pieces.
A few days later Huria, Hemi and Hohepata were famous. They were rewarded wit a gold or silver watch. Huria’s picture is in the NelsonArtGallery.
Many years ago the little kiwi lived up a tall tree. He had beautiful feathers and wings. There were many other birds in the forest like the pukeko that really loved his feathers because everyone admired his feathers. And there was the kakapo, piwakawaka, fantail, miromiro, tomtit, morepork, kaka and pipiwhaurauroa. One day there was a plague of insects in the forest. So Tane Mahuta called down the cuckoo, morepork, tui, fantail and pukeko for a meeting because he needed someone to live on the forest floor and eat all the insects. First he asked Cuckoo but Cuckoo said, “No. I cannot because I am building a nest in the trees and I cannot leave it.” Secondly he asked Morepork but Morepork said, “I love the light. I cannot leave it for the forest floor.” Then he asked Tui. He said, ” I am too afraid. I don’t know my enemies.” After that he asked Pukeko but he said, “I like to keep my feet dry in high branches.” Then he asked Kiwi and he said, “Yes.” Tane Mahuta said, You shall all have a punishment.” Tane Mahuta’s punishment changed their lives for ever. Many years ago the little kiwi lived up a tall tree. He had beautiful feathers and wings. There were many other birds in the forest like the pukeko that really loved his feathers because everyone admired his feathers. And there was the kakapo, piwakawaka, fantail, miromiro, tomtit, morepork, kaka and pipiwhaurauroa. One day there was a plague of insects in the forest. So Tane Mahuta called down the cuckoo, morepork, tui, fantail and pukeko for a meeting because he needed someone to live on the forest floor and eat all the insects. First he asked Cuckoo but Cuckoo said, “No. I cannot because I am building a nest in the trees and I cannot leave it.” Secondly he asked Morepork but Morepork said, “I love the light. I cannot leave it for the forest floor.” Then he asked Tui. He said, ” I am too afraid. I don’t know my enemies.” After that he asked Pukeko but he said, “I like to keep my feet dry in high branches.” Then he asked Kiwi and he said, “Yes.” Tane Mahuta said, You shall all have a punishment.” Tane Mahuta’s punishment changed their lives for ever. Many years ago the little kiwi lived up a tall tree. He had beautiful feathers and wings. There were many other birds in the forest like the pukeko that really loved his feathers because everyone admired his feathers. And there was the kakapo, piwakawaka, fantail, miromiro, tomtit, morepork, kaka and pipiwhaurauroa. One day there was a plague of insects in the forest. So Tane Mahuta called down the cuckoo, morepork, tui, fantail and pukeko for a meeting because he needed someone to live on the forest floor and eat all the insects. First he asked Cuckoo but Cuckoo said, “No. I cannot because I am building a nest in the trees and I cannot leave it.” Secondly he asked Morepork but Morepork said, “I love the light. I cannot leave it for the forest floor.” Then he asked Tui. He said, ” I am too afraid. I don’t know my enemies.” After that he asked Pukeko but he said, “I like to keep my feet dry in high branches.” Then he asked Kiwi and he said, “Yes.” Tane Mahuta said, You shall all have a punishment.” Tane Mahuta’s punishment changed their lives for ever. Many years ago the little kiwi lived up a tall tree. He had beautiful feathers and wings. There were many other birds in the forest like the pukeko that really loved his feathers because everyone admired his feathers. And there was the kakapo, piwakawaka, fantail, miromiro, tomtit, morepork, kaka and pipiwhaurauroa. One day there was a plague of insects in the forest. So Tane Mahuta called down the cuckoo, morepork, tui, fantail and pukeko for a meeting because he needed someone to live on the forest floor and eat all the insects. First he asked Cuckoo but Cuckoo said, “No. I cannot because I am building a nest in the trees and I cannot leave it.” Secondly he asked Morepork but Morepork said, “I love the light. I cannot leave it for the forest floor.” Then he asked Tui. He said, ” I am too afraid. I don’t know my enemies.” After that he asked Pukeko but he said, “I like to keep my feet dry in high branches.” Then he asked Kiwi and he said, “Yes.” Tane Mahuta said, You shall all have a punishment.” Tane Mahuta’s punishment changed their lives for ever.
