Rata and the Waka. (retold by Matai)

Rata wanted to build a waka out of a totara tree. So he went into the ngahere and used his sharp toki to cut the big straight tree down. After his day’s work he went home to rest. The next morning he went back into the ngahere only to find that the tree he had cut down was back in the ground growing straight and tall again. So he chopped it down again with his toki and started also trimming the branches off. Back home he went for a rest. The next day when he went back to the ngahere his tree was back in the ground growing straight and tall again. Rata really wanted to build his waka and he really wanted to know how this was happening so that night he hid in the ngahere to see. And what he saw was all the tamariki of Tane chanting karakia and picking up all the pieces of chipped wood and mending the tree so it was whole again.

“What are you doing to my tree?” shouted Rata. The children of Tane replied, “It is not your tree, it is Tane’s. You did not ask his permission to take it.” Rata was sad he had not remembered to ask Tane and said he was sorry. The children of Tane forgave him.

That night after Rata had gone home Tane told his children to build a magnificent waka from the totara tree and to deliver it to Rata and his village. They named the waka Niwaru because it was still green when it was made.

Rata and his village were very grateful to have such a beautiful waka. He never forgot to ask Tane for a rakau again.

Tiakina te wao nui a Tane, hei oranga mou.

Look after the great forest of Tane and in turn it will look after you.  

The shared poster Matai made about Rata and his waka.