How the Kiwi Lost its Wings

Long, long ago all of the birds were brightly coloured. The kiwi lived up, up in the highest trees. And all the birds sang the whole day long. Then one day a big plague of insects came into the forest.

Tane Mahuta looked at Fantail. She shivered so he asked cuckoo. “Cuckoo, would you come down to the forest floor?” Cuckoo said, “No Tane. I am too busy building a nest.” So he asked Ruru. Ruru said, “No Tane. I love the light so much I can’t leave it.” So he asked Tui. Tui said, “No Tane. I am afraid. I don’t know what enemies I’ll find on the forest floor.” Tane asked Pukeko. Pukeko said, “No, I don’t want my feet to get wet and the other birds admire my colours.” Then Tane asked Kiwi. Kiwi said, “Yes Tane, I will.

“All you other birds need a punishment. Cuckoo, you shall lay your eggs in other birds’ nests. Ruru, you shall go to the most secret parts of the forest. Tui, you’re so afrai you need the mark of a coward. Where is Pukeko, fine Pukeko. Pukeko, you shall live in the swamp.” Tane looked up. He saw a tear fall out of Bellbird’s eye. You will still sing when the sun touches the bush.

So kiwi lived on the forest floor and that was the end of how the kiwi lost his wings.