SEARCHING for HEROES

These are three stories of discovery from New Zealand.

- Dean Durber

It began long ago. The Sky Father and the Earth Mother were in love; they held each other very tightly.

“We must do something,” cried the children, who were sandwiched between them and had no room to move. The Forest Child stood up between them like a giant kauri tree, the Sea Child created waves, and the Wind Child blew hard. Soon the Mother and the Father have pushed far apart, and there was room for the children to play.

Maui’s brothers were very cruel. They were always trying to outwit him. But early one morning, he hid in their fishing canoe and waited. When his brothers arrived and could not see him, they cheered.

“Hurrah! We have escaped him!”

When they were far out at sea, Maui jumped out.

“It is too late to take me back,” he laughed. “I will fish, too!”

His angry brothers refused to help him.

“You will catch no hapuku,” they scoffed. Maui hurled his hook deep into the waters and waited. The seas began to toss and turn. The boat began to rock. Maui pulled with all his strength, and suddenly a great rock sprang up from the waters. Te Wai Pounamu was green and beautiful. And it became their new home.

Soon the men became unhappy.