Bir Māori Karşılaması
Hoş geldin, ey kuşum, bu gelen hangi kuştur?
Sahilden sürüler halinde yükselen kūaka’lar (limosa)
Bir dala konan korimako (çan kuşu)
Ölümü çeken pīwaiwaka (yelpaze kuyruk)
Tek başına uçuşan kōtuku (balıkçıl).
Nau mai e taku manu, he manu aha ka tau?
Kūaka mārangaranga ki te tāhuna
Korimako pae ki te kōtātara
Pīwaiwaka i kutia ai te mate
Kōtuku rerenga tahi.
Ancestors from the natural world | Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Many environmental phenomena are considered to be ancestors of humankind, taking on human qualities and names. For example, in some stories Tānerore is the sun, who has two wives – Hinetakurua (winter maiden) with whom he spends winter, and Hineraumati (summer maiden) with whom he spends his summers. Similarly, Hineruhi is the quality of light at dawn and Hinemoana is the sea-maiden, progenitor of fishes and of clement seas.
