How the Tuatara Got His Spikes

Max' s Myth

Long, long ago in New Zealand there was a great chief called Tane Hoka Hoka, who was God of the birds. On the shores of Wairoa lived a tuatara called Koa Koa but he didn't have a home. While Koa Koa was walking past a big rock he spotted a white bird up ahead. He looked to both sides of him and he noticed a hole so he walked into it. Soon he spotted a white bird in front of him. The bird saw him and fluffed up his feathers like a white tea cosy. The bird spoke. "Why are you in my hole? You bad, bad lizard." The bird called to Tane Hoka Hoka. "This bad, bad lizard has been in my hole", said the bird. The chief got angry and carved thirty spikes and made a big bow out of wood and flax. One by one he fired them and they landed down the lizard's spine, head and tail. First they went down the head, then onto the spine and after that onto the tail. "Now we will say goodbye to the chief, Tane Hoka Hoka and the tuatara, Koa Koa and last of all the white bird who fluffed up his feathers like a white tea cosy. His name was actually Cosy.

Max H

Sam's Retell

Many stories ago, in ancient times, there was a lady called Rona. She had some siblings who were thirsty, so Rona went to look for the water pot. She said, "Crackers! I need to get more water." So Rona went to the river to get more water. When on her way back to the house the moon went behind some clouds and Rona said, "You stupid moon. I can't see where I'm going."
So the moon grabbed Rona, but she held onto the Ngaio tree. Rona and the nagaio tree stayed on the moon for ever.

Sam P

How the Pukeko Got His Colour

Many generations ago, there was a native bird callled the Pukeko and this is the story of how he got his colour. One day Tane Mahuta called a meeting and gathered all the birds. Tane Mahuta shouted, "Pukeko will you eat the insects?"
"Kao", he said, " I am going for a walk."
When the pukeko was walking, he didn't see where he was going and he fell into some blue paint. When he got up his beakfell into some orange paint. And that is how the pukejko got his colours.

Sam