“We will take you and show you the magic of
Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud.
We will let the mountains and the lakes, the plains and the forests,
the valleys and the rivers,
the might of Rotorua, the beauty of Waitomo, the spirit of
the Northland, the mysteries of
Tekapo and the black sand of Piha,
cast their spells, and weave their melodies, then together
with you’re voice, you will have the power to
enchant the people and make them remember.”
So Rangi became the voice of the Gods, and her songs breathed new life
into Aotearoa, the people slowly remembered the ways of the Land. The
Children were happy once
again and the Elders were once more given the task of teaching the
children.
And the Gods were satisfied.
The God of the Rivers and the Sea said : “I think
perhaps I may have the answer.
A few days ago I heard the most beautiful voice coming from
the river bank in Ngaruawahia where the 2 rivers join. I was mesmerized
by the sound and found myself
drifting toward it.
She is a simple girl, a very pure spirit. I believe she could
be our voice. Come, let us go and lie in wait so you can hear for
yourselves, when morning comes she
will be there.”
And so it was that
the gods heard the voice of Rangi from where the two rivers meet.
“Rangi,” said the God of the
Sky, “please don’t be afraid. We have
been listening to your beautiful voice. It has made us very happy. We
need your help. We are saddened by your world, it is not what
we hoped this country would become. The Maori and the Pakeha have lost
their path. They have forgotten the way of the land. They take more
than they give back, and
more than they need and still they are not satisfied.
You must be our voice and help the people of Aotearoa remember and
follow the way of the spirit.”
“How can I do this ?”
answered Rangi,“I am just a young girl, I
don’t have the knowledge of the elders or their words of
wisdom. How can I make a difference to what people think ?”
I saw it was a young Maori girl who was walking along the
river bank humming and singing these beautiful melodies.