Uru and Rongo Ma Tane

Rongo Ma Tane the god of peace, sat proudly in his waka searching the sea for the legendary fish. The sea glistened in the sun whilst the waka’s bow surged through the water. The ocean’s waves were like monsters crashing through the water. As the waka kept moving, the waves got rougher and crashed together like rocks.

Uru the god of light, chanted to the people in his waka “ka mate ka mate”. He used the oar to cut through the water. His muscles flexed from under his piu piu. His long dreadlocks blew in the wind like leaves on a tree. His moko was fierce with lines that looked like cuts. He shone in the dark of midnight. Uru searched and searched for the legendary fish too and his brown eyes widened.

The two tribes stopped above the domain of the giant fish. Both tribes then got their fishing hooks and lines and threw it out to catch the fish. Then they realised that they were catching the same fish. The gods and their tribes yelled at each other before battling fiercely with their patus, mere pounamus and taiahas. They kept hitting each other with their weapons. Then Uru said that “We will fight for days until we win”.

The next day they were still fighting and fighting and it just wouldn't stop. Then Tangaroa, the god of the sea, watched the tribes carefully then looked at the ginormous fish on their fishing lines. Fearlessly Tangaroa rose from the waters and shouted to both of the tribes ”STOP AND PUT YOUR WEAPONS DOWN”. Tangaroa paused as the tribes did what they were told. Tangaroa whispered quietly to the tribes “Why don’t you just cut it in half so you Rongo Ma Tane can have that part and Uru you can have the other part”.

Tangaroa watched Rongo Ma Tane and Uru take their weapons, the short flat patu and the long taiaha and jump onto the legendary fish and cut it in half. After they had finished Uru said ”Maybe we shouldn't eat this fish, but we should live on it”.

And in time the giant fish became known as the North and South Island of Aotearoa.