Christina

]Christina

Rata and the Totara Tree

Rata was a young boy, he saw couple of men from the village going fishing but they didn’t catch enough fish. Rata decided to build a canoe, so he went and found a big, great brown, tall Totara tree from the forest. He cut down the tree then Rata went back home. When he came back the tree had grown back up. Rata cut down the tree again, then he went back home. But when Rata came back from his house the tree had grown back up. So Rata chipped and chopped the tree down again. Rata pretened to go home he hid behind a log. Rata saw the birds and the insects and Paupaiarehe putting the tree all back togethre. Rata jumped out and asked “Why?” The creatures replied,it’s because you did not ask Tane.’’So rata asked Tane for the tree.Tane said, “Yes, you can take the tree.’’ Rata chipped and chopped the tree down with the creatures also helped build the canoe. Rata said thank you to Tane.