The seven fish of Matariki / NGĀ IKA E WHITU O MATARIKI
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Long ago, deep in Te Moana; the ocean, there lived a mother fish and her seven children. Food was scarce where they lived, and Mother fish had to search further and further away for food to feed her tamariki; her children. One day, as Māmā fish went out in search of food, she took her tamariki in her arms and regarded each of them seriously, “Whakarango mai e āku tamariki; listen here my children, while i'm away do not venture far from our home. Do not go out into the open Moana because today is the day that Tataraimaka, the fierce giant, goes fishing”
The little fish cowered in fear. They had only heard stories of Tataraimaka; but they were so terrifying, surely they couldn’t be real? Thought the little fish. As Te Rā; the sun, rose above the ocean, his rays stretched through the water and caressed the little fish. The sea was smooth and the shining sun and gentle waves were calling them to play. They wanted to feel the warmth of Te Rā on their scales and the deep sea was cold, not like the bright water above. They soon forgot everything their mother had told them as young ones do, and started chasing each other playfully out into the open water.
The warmth was glorious and the water was a beautiful cerulean blue. The silver scales of the little fish were like diamonds in the sun as they shimmied in and out of the rays. But suddenly, a darkness descended and the little fish felt the absence of the sun as the water grew colder. As they looked up to beg Te Rā to come back, a net of Harakeke fell over them. The little fish were trapped. Through the gaps of Harakeke, and to their terror, the face of Tataraimaka loomed down at them. The little fish cried in despair, wishing for their mother to come and save them, and their flood of tears turned the water salty.
Nearby, the god of forests and birds, Tāne mahuta, heard the cries of the poor little fish. It had been a long time since he heard such despair and it softened his heart. He challenged Tataraimaka and fought him for the net. Tāne was a mighty opponent, and soon enough he tore the net from the hands of the giant and threw it up into the heavens, out of his reach.
There, the seven fish were transformed into a sparkling star cluster, what we now know as Matariki.
