Monday 15 August 2012.
Many years ago Rata was wandering, and feeling very maudlin as he walked across the stream by the bank. He wanted to go find his father because he had died not so long ago, but Rata was not able to attend his funeral. Rata was thinking and thinking and suddenly he found himself in the  forest. So Rata wandered around the forest looking for a big enough tree to make a waka for him to go get his father.  Rata gave a sigh of relief because he remembered that there was a totara tree not far from where he lived. So Rata went to the totora tree and he cut it down and he cut of all the chips so it was nice and smooth.

Early the next morning, Rata was stunned with surprise because he could not see the tree that he had cut down and chipped, and there were no leaves or branches, nothing, it was bare. He was struck with wonder and he had no explanation of where the tree had gone. So he cut down the tree a second time. This time he carved it and made it hollow. It was smooth and it had no leaves or branches. When night fell he went home and had a rest.

The following morning the tree was gone. He felt like crying. He dropped onto his knees and felt very maudlin again. He was so determined to make this waka now, that he had made it hollow, and had smoothed it out and made sure it was tough and solid. When night fell he  went home. Rata came back to see the if the Totora tree was still laying on the ground. He was amazed to see  the birds and insects working together to fix the tree up. He was happy that now he knew what was happening to the tree. He could not help it but come out of the dark. The birds were silent and they all disappeared. He shouted  “Okay I get it, I will never ever cut a tree again, I am so sorry”. A small voice said to him, “You can cut a tree but you will have to ask Tanemahuta, the god of the forest”.

The following morning he saw a waka and he said to himself, “Is this mine?”. A small voice said yes. From that day onwards he never ever forgot what these birds and Tane Mahuta did for him.