Once upon a time, in the heart of ancient Aotearoa, there lived a young warrior named Rātā. Born of noble lineage, he was the son of Wahieroa and the grandson of the great Tāwhaki, whose deeds were sung in every corner of the land.

But Rātā's heart carried the heavy burden of his father's unjust death. A cruel ogre, Matuku-tangotango, killed Wahieroa. Rātā's sole mission now was to retrieve his father's remains to give him a proper burial and seek revenge for his untimely death.

Moreover, he learned that Matuku-tangotango terrorized people by devouring innocent souls on each new moon. The ogre lived in a lake and on every new moon night, it would come out to devour people. This gave Rātā even more reason to hate the ogre and seek revenge. Justified in his cause he set out to kill it.

Rātā knew the path to vengeance wouldn't be easy but he was determined. His first challenge was to build a mighty canoe to cross the vast sea. For that, he needed a tree big enough. So, he searched deep into the sacred forest. Finally, he found the perfect tree for his canoe. Without hesitation, he raised his axe and began to chop. The tree groaned and trembled, but Rātā paid no heed to the sacred rituals and prayers owed to Tāne Mahuta, the god of the forest.

Night fell, and Rātā, exhausted from his labors, rested. But the next morning, he was shocked to see the tree once again stood tall, as if untouched by his axe. Confused but undeterred, Rātā set to work again, cutting down the tree. Yet, each morning, it was whole again.

Puzzled and frustrated, Rātā decided to hide and watch through the night. When the night came, he was met with a strange sight. Hākuturi, the forest spirits emerged from the shadows, singing enchanted songs as they painstakingly restored the tree to its former glory. Rātā's heart pounded as he realized his grave mistake. He had disrespected the gods and spirits of the forest by neglecting their traditions.

Humbled, Rātā approached the great Tāne Mahuta and offered prayers to ask for forgiveness. The forest seemed to sigh with relief, and the spirits accepted his prayers. Only then did Rātā begin anew, cutting down the tree, and this time, the tree remained fallen. In some versions, he captured the forest spirits and they cut the tree for him. That's how he could carve it into a waka (canoe), named Niwaru, that was big enough to take him and his loyal companions across the sea.

His next challenge came in the form of treacherous waters, but his resolve was unyielding. Finally, he reached the lair of Matuku-tangotango. Rātā waited till the ogre came out. He leaned over with his head in the pool, grabbed him by the hair, and killed him. Matuku's bones were used to make spears for hunting birds.

Then Rātā searched for his father's bones and learned that the Ponaturi have them in their village. So, he went out to retrieve them.

At last, along with his loyal companions, he reached the distant shores where their ancient enemy, the Ponaturi lived. The Panoturi priests were cunning and guarded Wahieroa's bones with diligence. Rātā knew he must outwit them. He crept into their sacred grove during the night, but the priests awoke, sensing an intruder. Rātā's heart raced as he gathered the bones. Just as he was about to escape, the Ponaturi warriors surrounded him.

The battle was fierce, but it went badly and many of his companions lost their lives. Desperate, Rātā recited an ancient incantation—the forbidden "Titikura."

Suddenly, the fallen warriors rose from the ground, their bones reassembling. The battlefield erupted in chaos—the living and the resurrected clashed. Rātā fought alongside his spectral allies, their determination unyielding. The Ponaturi were defeated, and Wahieroa's bones were finally free.

The crimson rātā flowers bloomed along the shore, their petals like drops of blood—a tribute to Rātā's courage and sacrifice.

Rātā returned home, not just as a warrior but as a wise leader who had learned the importance of respect for the gods and the natural world. His story became a timeless legend, a reminder to all of the power of humility, the necessity of tradition, and the strength found in honoring the spirits of the land.

And so, the tale of Rātā became an integral part of the Māori culture, a testament to the enduring values that bind humanity to the earth and the divine beings that dwell within it.

•✦──────✧✦✧──────✦•

Did you find this interesting? Please let us know in the comments!