Term Three

This term we are learning about Maori myths and legends.
We are learning how to retell these stories, and we are doing lots of dance and drama and ICT around them.
Here is Michelle's retelling of the Creation story, which we are using at our assembly this week to perform a Reader's Theatre piece.

Rangi and Papa: the story of Creation.

Long long ago, before light was made on earth, there was darkness and chaos. Rangi, the sky father, and Papatuanuku, the earth mother were embraced.

Rangi and Papa had sons. Their names are Tanemahuta, the strong and endurer, Tawhirimatea, the one with the mighty voice and who is jealous of Tane, Tangaroa, as wild as the sea, Tumateanga, the warrior, then Rongo who loves kai.

The brothers were cramped and had no room to move around between Rangi and Papa. They had a dream for the  freedom to move, so the brothers said,‘We should separate our parents!’

Tawhiri said, ‘NO! we should leave them alone!’ Tawhiri departed.

Tangaroa was the first to try to separate them. He pushed. He heaved. But he couldn’t separate them.

Then Tane said in his head, ‘I can do it! I can do it!’ So he leant his shoulders against Papa and he put his feet on Rangi, and pushed, and pushed. Then suddenly Rangi started to slowly float away from Papa.  Rangi said, ‘ What are you doing down there! Leave me alone!’

Tawhiri came back and said ‘I will rage storms and ferocious winds on you all, especially you, Tane.”

They fought for days and nights. But Tawhiri suddenly became tired, and joined his father, Rangi, in the sky. Before he went, he said, “This fight will continue some day.”

That’s why sometimes throughout the day there are ferocious winds. The brothers were gods. Tane- god of the forest; Tawhiri- god of winds; Tangaroa- god of sea; Tu - god of war; and Rongo – god of kai. When they floated away, Tawhirimatea decorated Rangi with rainbows and clouds and rain-clouds, so you can’t see Rangi’s sad face. Tane decorated Papa in bushes, ferns and tall trees. Then the sons had made their dream to reality, so they could walk around and swing their axes and weapons around,

All because of Tane.