‘Te Toki a Rata’ – The Adze of Rata

The story behind the Department of Design Studies Maori name

Rata enters the forest intent upon creating a waka (canoe). He carefully selects the best tree from the forest and sets about chopping it down with his toki (adze). Exhausted but satisfied, he completes his task that evening and falls into a deep sleep.

Incensed by Rata’s failure to recite the appropriate karakia (prayers) to Täne Mahuta, atua (deity) of the forest, all of the birds and insects of the forest gather the chips of the tree and re-establish it in its former glory.

The next day Rata is shocked to see the tree he had cut down the previous day standing again. Perplexed by this, Rata chops the tree down a second time. Again, the children of Täne restore the tree. This exchange continues until Rata finally decides that he will find out who is hindering his progress.

At the end of this particular day Rata pretends to return to his home, but instead hides among the bushs to catch the perpetrator. When the birds and insects come out to reconstruct the tree, Rata appears from his hiding place to confront them.

The children of Täne Mahuta remind Rata that he has forgotten to give the appropriate offerings to Täne for the use of the tree. Embarrassed by his lack of thought, Rata recites the appropriate karakia (prayers) for the removal of the tree. Rata and the children of Täne then work together to design and produce a beautifully carved waka (canoe).