In the days when the world was young and the lines between gods and mortals were thin, the people of Aotearoa struggled with time itself. The sun, fierce and impatient, raced across the sky like a wild waka with no paddler. Days passed in a flash. There was barely enough time to plant, fish, carve, or tell stories before darkness swallowed the land.
The people turned to their mother, the earth goddess Papatūānuku, and she wept for them. “You need more light,” she said, “but only one with the strength of ten and the cunning of twenty can challenge Tama-nui-te-rā—the Sun.”
Māui, the youngest and boldest of five brothers, heard her cry. Half-divine, born prematurely and cast into the sea, he was raised by the sea spirits and known for his tricks. But this task would test more than his cleverness. It would test his courage.
Catch the Sun
He went to his brothers. “Let us catch the sun and make it move slowly, so our people may live well.”
His brothers laughed. “Catch the sun? You truly are mad.”
But Māui, as always, persuaded them with charm and fire in his eyes. They wove ropes from flax, chanted karakia taught by their ancestors, and made snares strong enough to bind even the gods.
For many nights they traveled east, beyond the known lands, to the pit where Tama-nui-te-rā rises each morning. The journey was long and harsh. Their feet blistered. The cold bit their skin. But Māui’s spirit burned bright.
At the edge of the world, they built a wall of earth and stones, forming a trap. When the sky began to glow and the air shimmered with heat, Māui signaled.
Sun is Caught
As the sun leapt from his sleeping pit, the brothers threw the snares. The ropes hissed and tightened. Tama-nui-te-rā roared, filling the sky with fire. His rays lashed and struck, burning trees, cracking rocks. The earth shook with his rage.
The brothers shrank back, but not Māui. He ran forward, wielding his enchanted jawbone club, the one carved from the bones of his ancestor Muri-ranga-whenua. He struck the sun again and again, each blow a chant, a demand, a promise.
“Slow down! You burn the lives of the people! You race through the sky, and our days are hollow!”
Tama-nui-te-rā, weakened and bound, relented. “Release me, Māui, and I will move slower. I will stretch the days so your people can thrive.”
The brothers loosened the ropes. The sun limped across the sky, slower now, gentler. The land warmed. Crops grew full. Time stretched, and the people rejoiced.
From then on, the days in Aotearoa were long enough to live, work, sing, and dream.
Moral / Life Lesson
This tale reminds us that boldness and intelligence, when guided by purpose, can bring balance to even the most powerful forces. Māui’s courage shows that even tricksters can be heroes when they act for the good of all. It teaches us to challenge what harms our world, no matter how mighty it seems, and to use both strength and wisdom in the fight for harmony.
Knowledge Check
- What is the moral of the folktale “How Maui Slowed the Sun”?
The story teaches a lesson about cleverness, courage, and using one’s gifts to bring balance and improve life for others. - What cultural group does the tale “How Maui Slowed the Sun” come from?
This folktale originates from the Māori tradition in Aotearoa (New Zealand). - Why did Māui decide to slow the sun?
In the tale, Māui slowed the sun out of concern for his people, who could not live fully because the days were too short. - How does the folktale “How Maui Slowed the Sun” explain long daylight hours?
The story offers a traditional explanation for why days are longer—Māui trapped the sun and forced it to slow its journey across the sky. - Is “How Maui Slowed the Sun” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“How Maui Slowed the Sun” is a trickster tale and heroic myth, blending mischief with purpose to reflect Māori values and cosmic balance. - How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message of “How Maui Slowed the Sun” remains relevant as it teaches the value of using intelligence and bravery to solve big challenges and serve the community.
Origin: This folktale comes from the oral tradition of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand).
