Maui and the Giant Fish

Māui dreamed of the day that he could go fishing with his older brothers. Each time his brothers returned from a fishing trip Māui would ask, "Next time, can I come fishing with you?" But Māui's brothers would always make an excuse. "No you're much too young to come fishing with us. We need all the room in our waka for the many fish that we catch."

"I'll only take up a little bit of room, and I'll stay out of trouble, I promise," Māui would argue.

In this context Maui can be best described as:

• modest and cowardly

• rude and disrespectful

• calm and childish

• hankering and assertive

The eldest brother would reply, "You're so skinny we might mistake you for some bait and throw you overboard for the fish to eat."

In this context which response best describes his brother? His brother…

• is disinclined to appease Maui

• appears arrogant

• appears dictatorial

• uses humorous sarcasm

Māui would get angry. "I'll teach them, he'd say to himself, "I'll prove how good I am!" Secretly Māui hatched a plan to prove he was a great fisherman. One night when Māui was alone he began weaving a strong fishing line from flax.

In this context which words incorrectly describe Maui?

• innovative and persistent

• aggressive and cowardly

• disenchanted and irked

• firm and wise

• all of these

Early the next morning, Māui took his fishing line and secreted himself in the hull of his brothers' canoe.

In this context Maui reveals his

• stealth

• unsureness

• timidness

• none of these

None of the brothers noticed Māui hiding in the hull.

The brothers were

• perceptive

• cognizant

• incognizant

• none of these

"I have come to fish because Murirangawhenua said I would be a great fisherman. Let your lines down as I say my karakia and you'll catch more fish than you ever have." Māui began his karakia.

The brothers threw their lines into the water and instantly began catching fish. One after another they pulled their fish into the waka. In no time the waka was full and the brothers were delighted with their catch. We're the best fishermen ever!" the brothers congratulated each other.

In this context the brothers were

• dutiful

• proud

• arrogant

• self-important

• all of these

He spun his line out to sea, the line sunk deep to the ocean floor, down into the depths of the domain of Tangaroa, and instantly the hook was taken.

In this context who / what is Tangaroa likely to be

• a sea monster

• a great fish

• the God of the sea

• none of these

The brothers stopped their laughing and held tightly to the side of the waka as they began to speed across the ocean.

In this context the brothers are

• fearless

• prepared

• relaxed

• neglectful

"Guard our fish, and I'll soon return with our people."

In this context Maui is

• uncertain

• narcissistic

• frantic

• dictatorial

The brothers agreed to stay, and Māui headed back to Hawaiki. However as soon as Māui had gone, the brothers began chopping greedily at the huge fish, claiming huge pieces of it as their own.

In this context the brothers are

• greedy and honorable

• deceitful and cunning

• benevolent and truthful

• all of these