MatarikiMatariki

By Caleb By Caleb

The Star The Star FishesFishes

One day a slimy mother fish One day a slimy mother fish screamed to her seven little fish screamed to her seven little fish “Now listen, you children, keep “Now listen, you children, keep close to the rocks and don’t play close to the rocks and don’t play in the open sea!” Today in the open sea!” Today Tataraimaka goes out fishing with Tataraimaka goes out fishing with his big black net. Tataraimaka his big black net. Tataraimaka was a giant who fished with a was a giant who fished with a giant black net. He had made his giant black net. He had made his net out of magic from the flax net out of magic from the flax that grew slowly near sprits bay. that grew slowly near sprits bay.

On this day, however, the sea was sparkling and smooth, the sun was at its brightest. The rainbow colours were reflected from their scales as they played tag. They were having so much fun that they forgot all about their mothers big warning. Then disaster struck…

The black net of Tataraimaka hit the The black net of Tataraimaka hit the calm water, and all the seven fished calm water, and all the seven fished were slimy caught. The fishes cried were slimy caught. The fishes cried and cried, making the calm sea salty.and cried, making the calm sea salty.

Tane the God of Light was so sorry for Tane the God of Light was so sorry for the seven little fishes that he took the seven little fishes that he took away Tataraimaka’s net and hauled it away Tataraimaka’s net and hauled it up to the sky. There, the seven little up to the sky. There, the seven little fishes turned into stars. The seven fishes turned into stars. The seven fishes are called Matariki. You can see fishes are called Matariki. You can see Matariki just coming over the horizon Matariki just coming over the horizon in early June, which marks the first in early June, which marks the first month of Maori New Year. The names month of Maori New Year. The names of the six fishes are Toheti, Toheta, of the six fishes are Toheti, Toheta, Tupuanuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Ururangi Tupuanuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Ururangi and Waipuna-a-rangi. and Waipuna-a-rangi.

One star remains nameless. It is left One star remains nameless. It is left for any child who feels lonely to put for any child who feels lonely to put his/her on this star just before going his/her on this star just before going to bed. In this way, the child can to bed. In this way, the child can have company among the star fishes. have company among the star fishes.

Thanks For Watching!Thanks For Watching!