The Legends of Maui

Maui was a demi-god who lived in Hawaiiki. He possessed magic powers that not all of his family know about.

Maui’s brothers were uneasy and suspicious of his powers and were loath to have him accompany them when they went fishing.  One day, Maui hid in the bottom of the canoe armed with an enchanted hook which had been shaped from a famous jawbone. They rowed far out to sea before discovering Maui and he then urged them to row even further. Finally a halt was made and fishing started and soon the canoe was filled with fish. Before starting their return journey, Maui wanted to try his luck but he didn’t have any bait and his Brothers refused to give him any. Maui then struck his nose and then smeared his blood over his hook. The hook caught the home of Tonga-Nui, grandson of Tangaroa, god of the ocean. After much straining and pulling, up suddenly surfaced Te Ika a Maui (The fish of Maui) which is known today as the North Island of New Zealand. Maui told his brothers that the God’s might be angry about this and he asked them to wait while he went to make peace with the Gods.

Once Maui had gone the Brothers started to argue about the possession of this new land and they took out their weapons and started pounding away at the catch . The blows on the land created the many mountains and valleys of the North Island

The South Island is known as Te Waka a Maui (The waka of Maui). Stewart Island, which lies at the very bottom of New Zealand, is known as Te Punga a Maui ( Maui’s anchor), as it was the anchor holding Maui’s waka as he pulled in his giant fish.