How the Kiwi lost it's wings

Many years ago,Tanemahuta  was walking in the forest. Suddenly he saw his kids. They were sick because bugs were eating them.Tanemahuta told his brother Tanehokahoka. Tanehokahoka called a meeting with Tui,Pukeko,Pipiwharauroa and Kiwi.”Tanehokahoka said that he needed  someone to go down to the forest floor  to look after Tanemahuta’s children.”

Everyone was quiet. Tanehokahoka looked at Tui. Tui spoke in a scared voice,“It’s too dark down there,I’m scared of the dark.”

Tanehokahoka looked at Pukeko,Pukeko said “Tanehokahoka it’s too wet down there,I hate being wet.”

Tanehokahoka took a big breath, and Pipiwharauroa spoke in a worried voice,“I’m busy building my nest for my family.”

Tanehokahoka looked at Kiwi and Kiwi smiled at him.“Kiwi will you look after Tanemahuta’s children?”Kiwi replied,“Yes,I will” Tanehokahoka was happy with Kiwi because he agreed to look after Tanemahuta’s children.

Tanehokahoka and Tanemahuta were happy with Kiwi because he took the risk to look after Tanemahuta’s children and,for his courage.

They warned him that he was going to lose his beautiful wings,and stay on the forest floor forever.Tanehokahoka punished all the other birds.
Tui was asked to wear two white feathers to mark him as a coward. Pukeko was sent to live in the swamp and get wet everyday. Pipiwharauroa was not allowed to build a nest anymore and had to lay eggs in other birds nests.

Kiwi was blessed by Tanemahuta for his courage.Kiwi became the most loved birds of all.He ate all the bugs that were eating Tanemahuta’s children. The Kiwi lived happily down on the forest floor forever.