The sea was like a deadly, never ending quicksand. “Look, over there,” one of the many men paddling the boat. “Its land.”

“Row, Row Row!” The men rowed as fast as they could. They landed and pulled the boat onto the beach.

But, in their hurry to explore and hunt they didn’t pull the waka the up above the high tide mark. The evening went on smoothly. All the women were preparing a fine dinner to celebrate and all the while the tide came closer and closer until one wave managed to pick up the waka and pull it out to sea. It took about 5 seconds before the women noticed there was no canoe.

“Where is it.” they all cried. Then the chief’s daughter, Wairaka spotted it. “There.” She called out. She ran to the waka and then noticed that the other women were not beside her. “Well, what are you waiting for the canoes floating away.

Reluctantly the other women followed. “Take a paddle each and row.” they hopped into the waka. All of a sudden they had no bravery. Wairaka started rowing. Another woman joined in, and another, and another until all the women were rowing. They arrived back on the beach and saw the men's faces. All the women cowered in fear, all that is except one. That one was Wairaka, she turned her back and carried on. That is the story of Wairaka and the waka.