WALT: Retell a Maori water myth in our own words.

Water: Kupe and the giant Wheke

Kupe was a rangatira, a great fisherman who lived in Hawiiki. Surrounded Kupe’s settlement were the traditional fishing grounds where Kupe and his tribe caught their fish.

When the moon and the tides were right, the fishermen headed out to seas and always return with waka laden of fish of all different colors and sizes- gifts from. Tangaroa and Hinemoana which the whole tribe celebrated. The people gathered at the shoreline to greet them when they return, to divide the catch so each whanau had an even share.

One morning when the fishermen lowered their lines at one of their favorite fishing grounds, they didn’t get the expected tug on their lines. Instead, when they pulled their lines from the water, the bait had vanished. This continued through the morning and into the day, and not one fisherman caught a single fish. This never happened before. Many of the tribe were upset when they returned. This secretly accused the fishermen of disrespecting Tangora and therefore causing their misfortune.

Then one time he saw a giant wheke. “So that’s causing that fish to swim away,” said Kupe. Then he had the wheke as a pet. Then a few weeks later Kupe ate the wheke and they all live happily ever after

The end.