The Wreck of the Delaware

In 1863 Huria Matenga woke up at the sight if a storm. She heard people shouting outside. She woke Hemi. They ran to Hohapata, their friend. Then they ran to the beach. They threw a rope but it didn’t reach the boat. Henry Squirrell went to try to get a rope to the other side of the sea but he was smashed against the rocks. The sailors hauled the poor man up.
The captain was the last on the ship. He checked on Henry. He said to himself, “He is dead.” So he went away.
When they were all cosy they saw Henry Squirrell standing up on the boat. Soon he was drowned.
From that day on, if you go to Nelson Museum, you will see some watches, gold and silver; watches for Huria and her companions.

How the Kiwi Lost its Wings

Long, long ago kiwis lived in the top trees. They had brightly coloured feathers. All the other birds admired the kiwi’s feathers. One day Tane Mahuta saw a plague of bugs. He called Kiwi, Tui, Pukeko, Grey Warbler, Kakapo, Morepork and all the other birds together. Tane Mahuta said that one of the birds had to go and live on the forest floor.

So he asked Cuckoo, “Would you like to go on the forest floor?”

“No, I am building a nest in the trees.”

Then he asked Tui. “No, I am afraid of the enemies down there.”

Then he asked Morepork. “No way. I love the light in the trees so, so much.”

Then he asked Kiwi. “Yes, I would do it”

“Tui, you would have a white feather on your chest. Pukeko, you would stay in the wet parts of the forest. Morepork, you would stay in the darkest parts of the forest. Kiwi, you are perfect and everyone would like to take your name.”

And that’s how the kiwi lost his wings.