How Kiwi Saved the Forest and Tāne-mahuta

This week Room 16 were lucky to trial a new Ready to Read book called How Kiwi Saved the Forest.  It was a retelling of a traditional Māori story.  Room 16 learnt about Tāne-mahuta who was one of the characters in the story.

Some students had a go at measuring how big Tāne-mahuta is.  Tāne-mahuta is also the name of the largest kauri tree in New Zealand.  Everyone was very impressed that it was the same size as Tawa School's top court and its trunk alone is the width of 16 students.

Sheryl, who was our wonderful student teacher that worked in Room 16 earlier in the term came in for a surprise visit on Thursday.  She showed us the beautiful henna designs on her hand and also worked with a group of students during writing time.

Please enjoy some of Room 16's wonderful writing that they did about our big book this week.

How Kiwi Saved the Forest

Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka called out to the birds to save the forest because the trees were dying!  The insects were killing the branches (or eating the branches) which was making the trees die in the forest.  The trees were in Aotearoa (or the long white cloud/New Zealand).  This was a long, long time ago.  Māori people came to Aotearoa in a boat.  Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka called for the birds to save the trees from dying but if they wanted to save it they’ll have to live on the damp, dark forest floor.  All the birds didn’t want to save the trees because they had never lived on the damp, dark forest floor.  Only Kiwi was left so they asked Kiwi.  Kiwi replied with “āe”.  Tāne-hokahoka said, “thank you for saving the trees but your wings will grow dull but if you do this your legs will grow sturdy.  Kiwi said, “āe, I know”, said Kiwi with a deep, sad breathe. Tāne-hokahoka said, “I’m really sorry about you wings, but sadly it has to happen.”  Luckily Kiwi was very, very brave and was the hero and saved the trees.

By Te Arawa

The trees were dying.  The bugs were eating them.  Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka had a conversation with the kiwis.  They were shocked no-one said anything because they would not fly.  Then they went to Tūī.  Tūī said no.  He was afraid.  Then they went to Pūkeko.  “Will you live in the dark forest?”  “No, I am afraid of the dark,”  said Pūkeko.  Kiwi said, “I will look after the forest.”  Kiwi was a hero.  He lost his rainbow wings.

By Jahvy

Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka they called the birds because the trees were dying and all of the birds said, “no.”  Kiwi was the only one left and Kiwi said, “yes.”  He lost his fur.  He had to get strong because he had to get the insects.

By Billy

Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka were calling the birds because the trees were dying and the bugs were eating the branches.  That’s why the trees were dying.  Tāne-hokahoka was talking to the birds.  Kiwi was left.  Kiwi said, “yes” to look after the forest.  Kiwi liked the bugs but he would lose his rainbow wings and could not fly.

By Blake

Kiwi was called with Tāne-hokahoka and he said, “all birds please live on the forest floor because the trees are dying.  Kiwi will you eat the bugs and live on the forest floor.”  “yes, I will.  I will eat the bugs.”

By Amelia

Kiwi could fly in the forest.  Kiwi had rainbow wings.  The people said, “does someone want to save the forest?”  And Kiwi saved the forest.

By Taylor

Kiwi flew over the forest.  The forest was dying.  Somebody called the birds.  Kiwi saved the forest by eating bugs.

By Darius

The kiwi wanted to fly but he had to save the forest and to save the trees.  Kiwi was the hero and he was strong.

By Harry

Kiwi liked flying up in the sky to see the sky because Kiwi likes the sky because Kiwi likes his wings.  Kiwi went down to save the forest.

By Shreya

A long, long, long, long time ago there were two people who came on a boat to Aotearoa.  Their names were Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka.  They were brothers.  They were gods of the forest.  The birds were flying past them.  The trees were dying and Tāne-mahuta was mad because he was God of the Trees.  The insects were eating the trees.  Kiwis had to have no wings anymore.  The other brother Tāne-hokahoka took Kiwi’s wings.  He was the god of the birds.  Kiwi grew strong legs.  He ate the bugs so the trees wouldn’t die and Kiwi was a hero.

By Miaz

There was a happy forest.  Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka came to the forest.  They saw that the trees were dying.  They said aloud, “boom!”  All the birds swooped down from the sky.  They said, “the trees are dying.  We need a bird to live on the forest floor to hunt the insects.”  Every bird said, “kāo, not me.”  Until there was only one bird left.  Kiwi said “yes I will” and his rainbow wings grew into different shades of brown and his legs grew strong but was a hero.

By Maddison

Long, long ago in Aotearoa kiwis had wings and not just any wings, rainbows wings.  Tāne-hokahoka and Tāne mahuta saw that the trees were dying.  They called the birds to tell them that the trees were dying.  All the birds came onto the ground.  They told the birds what was happening.  Tāne-hokahoka asked one by one and each said, “no” except for Kiwi.  He said, “yes.”  He had to save the forest.  He became a hunter but he will lose some things.  He lost his wings and he couldn’t fly anymore.  He was happy and sad.

By Habiba

Once upon a time in Aotearoa some people were sailing to New Zealand.  The trees were dying but Kiwi saved the forest because Kiwi ate the bugs.  Kiwi saved the day and Kiwi’s wings grew dull.

By Zanna

Once upon a time there lived two brothers.  They found out that the trees were dying.  Well someone had to eat all those bugs.  Soon, one of those brothers had to call out with his booming voice!  So he did.  None of the birds participated.  Soon they asked Kiwi thinking he would say no.  Kiwi had beautiful, colourful wings.  But…soon Kiwi said yes!  He didn’t like living on the forest floor but Kiwi was not going to fly anymore.

By Eesha

Tāne-mahuta boomed, “the trees are dying because the insects are eating the trees!”  They asked, “do you want to?”  Kiwi said, “yes.”  His wings grew dull and he couldn’t fly.

By Atticus

The title is ‘How Kiwi Saved the Forest.’  This is the story.  Kiwi had rainbow wings.  Tāne-mahuta and his brother Tāne-hokahoka called the birds.  The birds were called Tūī, Kea and Kiwi.  The insects were eating the trees.

By Persis

A long, long time ago in Aotearoa Tāne-hokahoka and Tāne-mahuta called the birds.  Tāne-mahuta said to the birds, “the trees are dying.”  Tāne-hokahoka and Tāne-mahuta asked Tūī and Tūī said, “kāo.”  So Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka asked Pūkeko but Pūkeko said “kāo.”  Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka asked all the birds and also Kiwi and Kiwi said, “āe.”

By Skylah

The birds came down.  There was a booming voice.  It was Tāne-mahuta and his brother Tāne-hokahoka.  “The trees are dying,” they said.  “The insects are eating the branches.  You will have to live on the forest floor and eat the insects.  Tūī with your beautiful sweet song.  Will you come and live on the forest floor?” “Kāo, not me,” said Tūī.  “I’m afraid of the dark.”  “Pūkeko with your beautiful red and blue feathers.  Will you come and live on the forest floor?” “Kāo.  Not me.  My feet will get wet and cold.”  One by one the birds said no until only Kiwi was left.  “Kiwi with your beautiful rainbow feathers.  Will you come and live on the forest floor?”  “Āe.  I will do it.”  They were filled with joy.  “It will be hard for you.”  “Āe.  I know.”  “Your feathers will grow dull.  You will have to grow sturdy legs and you will never fly again.”  Kiwi’s heart sank.  He loved to fly but he loved the forest more.  “Āe.  I know”.  Kiwi was a hero.  He grew strong, sturdy legs.  His feathers grew dull.  He hunted for insects.

By Blythe

Long, long ago in Aotearoa things were not as they are now.  The skies were filled with birds.  They heard a booming noise.  It was Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka.  They came to give a message to the birds to save the forest but the birds said “no.”  One bird said, “I can do it.”  It was Kiwi but Kiwi was sad because he was going to lose his rainbow wings.  Tāne-mahuta said Kiwi felt sad to lose his rainbow wings and he would not fly.  But Kiwi still did it anyway.  He was sad and happy.

By Ma’ana

The Tāne-mahuta tree is so long.  If I was there I would be a dot.  At school we read a book and Kiwi saved the day!  It was pretty cool in the book.  I hope I was there.

By Shika

Today Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka woke-up.  Tāne-mahuta told Tāne-hokahoka, “it’s time to call the birds for some kai.”  The two people told the birds, “it’s time to be kind to Kiwi ‘cos Kiwi is a nice friend.”

By Tiana-Lee

Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka saw the creatures were eating the trees.  Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka said to Kiwi and the birds how to help on the forest floor.  Kiwi saved the day by eating them.  His wings started to turn brown but he grew strong.

By Manaia

A long time ago in Aotearoa a booming sound came out of the forest.  It was Tāne-mahuta and his brother Tāne-hokahoka.  The trees were dying.  The bugs were eating it.  They called the birds.  They said to the birds, “you’ll have to eat the bugs.”  All of the birds said, “no.”  Kiwi said, “yes.”  But you will lose your rainbow wings.  Kiwi’s heart sank.  Oh how Kiwi loved to fly.  Kiwi grew strong, sturdy legs and Kiwi was a hunter.

By Jack

Tāne-mahuta and Tāne-hokahoka called the birds.  Then he said that the trees were dying.  So the birds said, “who would go down to save the trees?”  Then Kiwi said, “yes.”  But he would lose his rainbow wings.  Kiwi was sad but he was happy because the trees were going to be alive.

By Nohoa

Kiwi saved the trees and Kiwi got his wings and everyone was happy and clapped.

By Boston

Kiwi had rainbow wings.

By Abdullah

Kiwi likes to eat worms and Kiwi likes to eat grass.  Why does Kiwi have wings?

By Katie

Kiwi had rainbow wings.

By Chaplain

Kiwi’s wings are rainbow.  Kiwi went to look for bugs.  And then Kiwi did not have her wings.  That’s why she do it.

By Fonofili

Kiwi could fly high up in the sky but a big boo came.  The birds flew way up high.  The people called loud.

By Jake

One day there was some brothers.  But Kiwi had rainbow wings.  It was so colourful.  But Kiwi loved the forest more.  Tāne-hokahoka called the birds down to the dark forest floor to save the forest.  Then Kiwi lived on the dark forest floor and he ate all the bugs.

By Lachlan

The birds were flying up in the sky.  After that the trees were in the forest.  

By David

Tāne-hokahoka said, “Haere mai, haere mai.”  Tāne-mahuta needed Kiwi to save the trees because the bugs were starting to eat the trees.  So he needed help.  

By Kymani

Kiwi has rainbow wings.  A man got all the birds.  He said, “the trees are being killed.”  The birds said, “no.”  “Kiwi will you save the trees?”  Kiwi said, “yes.”

By Ashlynn

Kiwi has rainbow wings because he likes flying.  But Tāne-hokahoka said, “Kiwi saved the forest and the trees will die.  Save the trees because the trees give you oxygen.”

By Keiana