In the traditional Maori view, all creatures and natural resources are descendents of Tane Mahuta and Tangaroa, gods born of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, the Sky Father and Earth Mother. Tane Mahuta created forests and birds, and humans are descended from him, while the children of Tangaroa are the fish and other sea creatures.
According to many traditions, the kiwi is the eldest child of Tane Mahuta, the god of the forest. Through our kinship with Tane, kiwi are our elder brothers and sisters, and offer us an older sibling's protection.
Maori Named the Kiwi
Maori gave the kiwi its name - perhaps imitating the sound of its call (creeee, creeee), or else adapting the Polynesian word kivi, the name of the bristle-thighed curlew, a large brown wader that superficially resembles a kiwi.
They hunted kiwi for its meat, skin, and feathers, but did so sparingly and with great ceremony. For kiwi are under the special protection of Tane, and are known as te manu huna a Tane ("the hidden bird of Tane"). Only chiefs were allowed to eat kiwi meat and wear the soft kahukiwi (kiwi feather cloaks), and special chants and rituals took place before a kiwi hunt began.
Ceremonial Kahukiwi
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The ceremonial kahukiwi (cloaks) were made of a flax fabric. The shafts of the feathers were woven into the flax to secure them, usually with the fluffy underside of the feather facing outwards. |
Sometimes whole kiwi skins were sewn together to make kahukiwi, with the feathers still attached.
At significant moments in life - deaths, marriages or other great events - the kahukiwi is drawn over the shoulders as a privileged symbol of chieftainship and high birth.
The kahukiwi, which are nearly always named, are great taonga (treasures) and carry the wairua (spirit) of the birds themselves. Today, it is only from kiwi that die naturally or through road accidents or predation that Maori people gather the prized feathers and continue the tradition of kahukiwi.
How the Kiwi Lost His Wings
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One day, Tane Mahuta was walking through the forest when he noticed his children, the trees, were beginning to sicken as bugs ate them. |
He talked to his brother, Tane Hokahoka, who called all of his children, the birds of the air, together.
Tane Mahuta asked that one of the birds should come down from the forest roof and live on the forest floor to help save his children, the trees. Not a bird spoke so Tane Hokahoka asked each one in turn whether they would come down from the forest roof.
Tui refused. He was afraid of the darkness down on the ground, away from the sun.
Pukeko refused. He found the forest floor too cold and the earth too damp.
Pipiwharauroa, the shining cuckoo, refused. He was too busy building his nest.
But Kiwi agreed. He looked at the sun filtering through the high leaves, he looked at the damp cold earth, and he looked around and saw his family. And still he agreed.
Great was the joy in the hearts of Tane Hokahoka and Tane Mahuta, for this little bird was giving them hope. But Tane Mahuta felt he should warn Kiwi of what would happen.
"E Kiwi, do you realise that if you do this, you will have to grow thick, strong legs so that you can rip apart the logs on the ground. That you will loose your beautiful coloured feathers and wings so that you will never be able to return to the forest roof. You will never see the light of day again."
And still Kiwi agreed.
Then Tane Hokahoka turned to the other birds and said, "E Tui, because you were too scared to come down from the forest roof, from now on you will wear two white feathers at your throat as the mark of a coward. Pukeko, because you did not want to get your feet wet, you will live forever in the swamp. Pipiwharauroa, because you were too busy building your nest, from now on you will never build another nest again, but lay your eggs in other birds’ nests.
But you Kiwi, because of your great sacrifice, you will become the most well known and most loved bird of them all."
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