Te whatukura o Tangaroa / nā Tamati Waaka i tuhi ; nā Vaitoa Baker ngā pikitia.

Published for the Ministry of Education.

Traditional story about the sacred relic and fishing talisman 'Te whatukura o Tangaroa', treasured by Te Whanau-a-Apanui, which was brought to New Zealand from Hawaiiki. Rua-te-pupuke places a fishing charm on a stone, creating a sacred whatukura that will bring the fish. He gives it to his son Manuruhi, with the advice not to be greedy and remember the fish are the children of Tangaroa. However Manuruhi doesn't pay enough attention. Eventually he is kidnapped and pulled down to the depths of the sea by Tangaroa while fishing to feed his hungry child. Rua-te-pupuke is determined to find Manuruhi, and eventually finds Manuruhi as a tekoteko on top of Tangaroa's wharenui. The next day Tangaroa and his children are unaware that the sun had risen because Rua-tepupuke had covered the window and door of the wharenui. Rua-te-pupuke then sets the house on fire, and takes the pou and the tekoteko in the image of Manuruhi from the wharenui, but leaves the sacred whatukura below the water where it will be safe, waiting for the time when the right man or woman arrives to take care of it.

"Kāre te tamaiti a Manuruhi i te pirangi ki ngā kai ka whāngaia ki a ia. Ka haere a Manuruhi ki te tono āwhina i tana tipuna, i a Rua-te-pupuke. Ka whakatōkia e Rua-te-pupuke tētahi mauri ki roto i tētahi anga pāua kia pai ai te hī ika a Manuruhi hei kai mā tana tamaiti. Ko tana whakatūpato ki a Manuruhi kia kaua e rawa e tūkino i ngā tamariki a Tangaroa. Heoi, ka haere a Manurhi, ka nui rawa ngā ika ka hīia e ia. Ka riri a Tangaroa, ka kāwhakina a Manuruhi, ka whakatūria ia he tekoteko ki te koruru o te whare whakairo o Tangaroa i te moana. Ka haere a Rua-te-pupuke ki te kimi i a Manuruhi, ka tinihangatia a Tangaroa e rāua ko Hine-matiko-tai. Ka whakahokia mai a Manuruhi me ngā whakairo mai i te whare ātaahua o Tangaroa ki te ao tūroa"--Teacher's guide.

Primary.