Polynesian Mythology · Chapter
Te Kanawa’s Adventure with a Troop of Fairies explained
Te Kanawa, a Waikato chief, encounters a troop of fairies on Pukemore while hunting kiwi.
What happens
Te Kanawa, a Waikato chief, encounters a troop of fairies on Pukemore while hunting kiwi. Terrified, he offers his jade ornaments to appease them. The fairies take only the patterns of the jewels and leave, allowing Te Kanawa to escape unharmed.
Themes in this chapter
Mythology and Religious Belief
The encounter with fairies illustrates Māori mythological beliefs about supernatural beings and their interactions with humans.
Resistance and Resilience
Te Kanawa's quick thinking and offering of ornaments demonstrate resilience in the face of a terrifying supernatural threat.
Characters to notice
- Te Kanawa
A handsome Waikato chief who encounters fairies on Pukemore and cleverly offers his ornaments to save himself.
Key passages
“Here you come climbing over Mount Tirangi To visit the handsome chief of Ngāpuhi, Whom we have done with.”
The fairies sing a song about climbing Mount Tirangi to see the handsome chief of Ngāpuhi, whom they have finished with.
The fairies' song references a chief of Ngāpuhi, possibly a misidentification or poetic license.
“The fairies carried off with them similitudes of all the jewels of Te Kanawa, but they left behind him his jasper neck ornament and his earrings, so that he took them back again, the hearts of the fairies being quite contented at getting the patterns alone; they saw, also, that Te Kanawa was an honest, well-dispositioned fellow.”
The fairies took only the likenesses of Te Kanawa's ornaments, leaving the originals, satisfied with the patterns and recognizing his honesty.
This highlights the fairies' non-materialistic nature and their respect for Te Kanawa's character.