The Legend Of The Seven Whales

There once was a Tohunga who was an expert of any skill and art who lived in the east of the North Island. The face of the Tohunga was covered in tattoos. He also looks after seven whales. Their names are Tahutoria,Takitaki, Hikunui, who was the youngest whale of them all, Tuhara, Korito, Onepoto and Iwitea. They would all go and ask all the other fish in the sea if they had any news.

So they set off to see the other fish for some news. That was their responsibility. Takitaki preferred the Dolphins. Tahutoria liked to talk to other whales. Korito spoke to the Sharks. Onepoto talked to the Swordfish. Tuhara chatted to the Snapper and the Silver Frostfish. Iwitea gathered the news from the groper and the john dory. Hikunui got the news from the paua, with the Mable fish following him.  

One morning when the whales were heading out to sea they realised that Hikinui was not with them . Only Iwitea and Tuhara could be seen swimming out of Waiatai. Then suddenly Tohunga came out of nowhere and spoke to the whales saying, “you whales are in big trouble. If you are not out to the ocean by the time the sun rises, you will be really sorry.”

The sun had risen and the whales were not out to sea. So Tohunga striked the whales with lightning and with a big clap of thunder, they were turned into mountains. Now you can see the whales just east of Wairoa. Tuhutoria, Takitaki, Korito and Onepoto are the closest to the sea. Hikunui is fast asleep in the Waiatai Valley.