Rata and the Totara

Rata and the Totara

Tanamahuta, the god of the forest created a Tikanga . The Tikanga says that the people of the village have to ask before they cut down trees, so they won't be greedy. Ratas mum had found a beautiful tree in the forest and told him to go cut it down and make a waka. Rata forgot about the totara and chopped it down. When he finished it was dark so he went back home and would carry on with it in the morning. The birds saw what he was doing and knew he didn't ask to cut it down, so they put the tree back together. When rata came back and the tree was standing tall, he thought he must of dreamed it. So he set off to work once again. Once he had cut down the tree he laid out the design for his waka and started to hollow out the tree. When he had finished it was dark to he went back home. The birds put the tree back together again and in the morning when rata came back he was confused. He set back to work and when the tree was on the ground it was late afternoon. He pretend he was done for the day and hid behind the bush. The birds came out and put the tree back together and he jumped out. They explained how he had not asked for permission to cut down the tree and he instantly felt sorry. He asked for permission and tanamahuta said yes and he set off to work once again.

Moral of the story.

Tiakina nga manu, ka ora te ngahere. Ka ora te ngahere, ka ora nga manu.

Look after the birds and the forest flourishes. If the forest flourishes, the birds flourish