In ancient Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, the Maori people struggled with time. The days were too short. Morning light faded quickly, and night crept in before food was cooked or stories finished. The people worked hard but could not enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Maui, the youngest son of a great chief and a demigod by birth, watched his mother rush each day. “Why does the sun move so fast?” he asked.
“Because it is selfish,” she replied. “It cares only for its journey and not our needs.”
Determined to help, Maui called his brothers together. “Let us catch the sun and make it slow down.”
His brothers laughed. “You cannot catch the sun. It is fire in the sky.”
But Maui persuaded them. They braided flax ropes, strong and thick, and coated them with sacred oils. Before dawn, they traveled to the place where the sun rose—the edge of the world.
They built stone walls to hide behind and waited.
As the first rays peaked over the horizon, the brothers threw their ropes and caught the sun. It thrashed and roared, blinding them with heat. But Maui struck it with the enchanted jawbone of his ancestor.
“Why do you strike me?” the sun cried.
“You move too fast,” said Maui. “Our people suffer. You must travel slower.”
Wounded, the sun agreed. Since that day, the sun moves more gently across the sky, giving enough time for people to live, love, and rest.
Moral: Even the most powerful forces can be changed with courage and unity.
