Who is Maui and why is he so important to the Maoris and New Zealand?
Maui and the Magic Fish Hook
The legend of Maui is a very significant part of the New Zealand history and Beliefs because of the story behind it.
Maui and the magic fish hook: Despising him, Maui’s four brothers conspired to leave him behind when they went out fishing. Overhearing their plans, Maui secretly made a fishhook from a magical ancestral jawbone. Then one night he crept into his brothers' canoe and hid under the floorboards.
It wasn't until the brothers were far out of sight of land and had filled the bottom of their canoe with fish that Maui revealed himself. Then he took out his magic fishhook and threw it over the side of the canoe, chanting powerful incantations as he did so.
The hook went deeper and deeper into the sea until Maui felt the hook had touched something. He tugged gently and far below the hook caught fast. It was a huge fish! Together with his brothers, Maui brought the fish to the surface.
Maui cautioned his brothers to wait until he had appeased Tangaroa the god of the sea before they cut into the fish. They grew tired of waiting and began to carve out pieces for themselves. These are now the many valleys, mountains, lakes and rocky coastlines of the North Island. This story was taken straight from 100% Pure New Zealand on the 24/10/14. http://www.newzealand.com/au/feature/the-legend-of-new-zealand/
This is so important to New Zealand because it is all about how New Zealand was created and how it came to be.
Maui and the magic fish hook: Despising him, Maui’s four brothers conspired to leave him behind when they went out fishing. Overhearing their plans, Maui secretly made a fishhook from a magical ancestral jawbone. Then one night he crept into his brothers' canoe and hid under the floorboards.
It wasn't until the brothers were far out of sight of land and had filled the bottom of their canoe with fish that Maui revealed himself. Then he took out his magic fishhook and threw it over the side of the canoe, chanting powerful incantations as he did so.
The hook went deeper and deeper into the sea until Maui felt the hook had touched something. He tugged gently and far below the hook caught fast. It was a huge fish! Together with his brothers, Maui brought the fish to the surface.
Maui cautioned his brothers to wait until he had appeased Tangaroa the god of the sea before they cut into the fish. They grew tired of waiting and began to carve out pieces for themselves. These are now the many valleys, mountains, lakes and rocky coastlines of the North Island. This story was taken straight from 100% Pure New Zealand on the 24/10/14. http://www.newzealand.com/au/feature/the-legend-of-new-zealand/
This is so important to New Zealand because it is all about how New Zealand was created and how it came to be.
Tales from the mythologies of Creation, Maui and Aoraki
Date Visited: 28-10-14
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6q8E1laQjY
Date Visited: 28-10-14
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6q8E1laQjY