By AbbieBy Abbie

The Star FishesThe Star Fishes

One day, a mother fish warned her seven little One day, a mother fish warned her seven little fish, fish,

““Now listen, you must stay close to these rocks Now listen, you must stay close to these rocks and don’t go adventuring out in the open sea. and don’t go adventuring out in the open sea. Today Tataraimaka is going fishing.”Today Tataraimaka is going fishing.”

Tataraimaka was a giant who loved to fish with Tataraimaka was a giant who loved to fish with a giant black net. He had made the net from a giant black net. He had made the net from the beautiful flax that grew near Spirits Bay.the beautiful flax that grew near Spirits Bay.

But the very same day the sea was smooth, But the very same day the sea was smooth, the sun was at it’s very reflect brightest so the sun was at it’s very reflect brightest so the rainbow scales on the little fishes’ tails the rainbow scales on the little fishes’ tails were reflected by the sun as they played were reflected by the sun as they played tag. They were having so much fun that tag. They were having so much fun that they forgot all about their mother’s they forgot all about their mother’s warning! warning!

All of a sudden disaster struck! The black All of a sudden disaster struck! The black net of Tataraimaka smacked the water, net of Tataraimaka smacked the water, and all seven fishes were caught! The and all seven fishes were caught! The fishes cried and cried making the water fishes cried and cried making the water salty with their tears. Tane the god of light salty with their tears. Tane the god of light was so sorry for the them that he snatched was so sorry for the them that he snatched Tataraimaka’s net and hauled it up to the Tataraimaka’s net and hauled it up to the sky. There, the seven fishes transformed sky. There, the seven fishes transformed into stars. into stars.

The seven stars are now called Matariki. The seven stars are now called Matariki. You can see Matariki just coming over the You can see Matariki just coming over the horizon in early June, which marks the first horizon in early June, which marks the first month o the Maori year. The names of six month o the Maori year. The names of six of the stars are Toheti, Tohita, Tupuanuku, of the stars are Toheti, Tohita, Tupuanuku, Tupu-a-rangi, Ururangi and Waipuna-a-Tupu-a-rangi, Ururangi and Waipuna-a-rangi. rangi.

One star remains nameless. It is left for any One star remains nameless. It is left for any child who feels lonely to put his or her child who feels lonely to put his or her name on it just before going to bed. In this name on it just before going to bed. In this way, child can have company among the way, child can have company among the star fishes. star fishes.