The Fish of Maui

The beginning of this term we have been learning about different folk tales from different countries and started by retelling one of our own New Zealand legends: 

We read the book, retold it orally, watched this amazing Maori Video with English Subtitles, looked at pictures, made sequence maps, illustrated and created some phenomenal pieces of writing. Come in and see the finished pieces up on our wall but, until then, enjoy some of our stories. 

The Fish of Maui

Maui was pretending to be sleeping. He heard that his brothers were going fishing without him. He was sleeping in the boat. When the sun rose Maui and his brothers woke up. Maui’s brothers came to the boat and they went fishing. Maui popped out of the boat and the brothers were shocked. The brothers did not give Maui any bait so Maui had to use his own blood as bait. Then he swung his hook and it plopped the water. His hook hooked on something. Maui pulled until the fish was pulled up. Maui said to his brothers “don’t hurt it!” but the brothers didn’t listen to him. The brothers picked up the paddles then they sliced the fish until it became hills and valleys. The fish became the North Island of New Zealand.

-By Oliver 

The Fish of Maui

Maui and his brothers were going fishing but this morning, Maui was sleeping in the canoe and sprang out of the canoe and his canoe went sideways. Maui started paddling to the end of the sun set. The brothers were smashing Maui up. Maui had no bait so he sliced his nose and blood started to pour on the hook. He spun the hook around and threw it into the sea. Maui got a  big fat fish. The brothers were angry at Maui because he was the best fisherman in the world and the brothers were trying to be better than Maui.The brothers were trying to slice the fish in one hit but the fish started to become hills and mountain sides and land. 

- By Blaze

The Fish of Maui

First Maui was pretending to sleep. He was sleeping in the boat. When the sun rose Maui and his brothers woke up. Maui’s brothers came to him and they went fishing. They paddled across the sea. His brothers hit him and he used his blood on the hook. Maui needed to get some fish. Maui spun the hook in the air and it landed in the ocean. Maui was strong, he pulled and pulled and a big fish came out. While Maui went to get his hook, his brothers smashed the smooth fish. When Maui came back he found all mountains. So the big stingray fish became the North Island.

-By Anica

The Fish of Maui

When Maui’s brothers went fishing, Maui said, “Can I come?” but his brothers told him to stay because they were jealous. They went fishing but Maui didn’t listen so he sneaked in the shadows to the bottom of his brothers canoe. When he came out of the canoe he roared at them and they were afraid. Then he went with them. Maui carved himself a magic hook and threw his hook into the sea. There was a wave but Maui didn’t get scared. He was brave and mighty and strong and he fought the ocean. He defeated the stingray. The stingray became the North Island of New Zealand.

- By Petelo 

The Fish of Maui

Maui was lying down when his brothers started talking. “We’re going to go fishing,” said Maui’s brothers “but we’re not going to take Maui with us.” They continued not realising maui was still awake so Maui snuck out of their little cottage and climbed into their canoe. When the sun rose, Maui’s brothers went onto the canoe not bothering to see if Maui was still sleeping. A few minutes later Maui jumped up and scared his brothers. He made his brother paddle and paddle on. One by one his brothers fell asleep but still Maui paddled on. Finally as the sun tose Maui stopped. When his brothers woke up they were so grumpy they wouldn’t give him any bait. So Maui got his magic hook and cut his nose so he could use his blood as bait. He cast his hook and it got stuck on a carving but Maui kept on pulling with all his might and he pulled up a giant fish. He said, “I’ve got to get my hook. Look after him.” His brother started hitting the fish with their paddles. When Maui came back, his fish was land with hills and became the North Island of New Zealand.

- By Eve

The Fish of Maui 

Early in the morning Maui was pretending to sleep and heard his four brothers say “We should go fishing without Maui.” Later that night Maui hid in the big brown canoe at the bottom. Meanwhile the brothers went fishing and suddenly… “SURPRISE!” said Maui. Those four brothers were very surprised. After then Maui paddled all along also when his brothers begged for him to stop. Soon after that when Maui’s brothers were so tired they fell asleep one by one. Maui still paddled until the sun rose in the sky. Soon by then when the brothers woke up they were very angry because Maui was with them. The brothers didn’t share bait with Maui so he used his own blood from his nose. Then he swung his hook over his head and threw it in the ocean. SPLASH! Into the water it went. Then he hooked it onto the armpit of a Maori carving. Maui heaved and pulled but he couldn’t pull it up. But… underneath there was a huge fish that was pulling the fishing rod. Maui and the great fish were fighting each other. The great fish could not win this fight with Maui’s strength, so Maui pulled up the fish. Then when he pulled it up he was going to get his rope and his hook. When he was going to get it, he said to his brothers not to touch the fish’ precious smooth body. When Maui was out of sight the brothers started to destroy the fish. When Maui came back it was a mountain village.

-By Mone