The Seven Eggs

Once, back in early maori times, there lived a mother
Tui and her seven eggs. They all lived in a nest made out of pine needles and twigs.
They lived high up in a kowhai tree. The mothers name was Neko.
Her seven eggs had four girls and three boys in them.


One day she woke up to three hawks starring at her. She gave a frightened squawk.
Back then all the birds were scared of hawks. She backed away. She didn't know why they were there.
 Suddenly, she fell out of her nest.

One of the hawks grabbed 4 of her eggs and another grabbed 3. She didn't know that the bird king
had made a new rule which was, who ever had any more babies
would have to go to prison. She landed on the ground and looked up. A sign was stuck on the tree saying ' NEW RULE' whoever has any more children will be thrown into prison'. She hated that rule.
All of a sudden the last hawk swooped down and took Neko to prison.


Once she got into the prison cell the king asked '' why did you have babies''.
''Well i didn't see that new rule'' said Neko.
With that the king was furious. He sent Neko and her eggs away. Neko was so furious with the hawks
that she threw her eggs into the sky.


And thats how there became seven stars for Matariki.