Maui Catches the Sun

As a youngster, there were only two ways that you could access Maori culture in 1980s New Zealand. Firstly, once you had successfully navigated the round or square windows, Rawiri Paratene would let you hang out with Manu - the Maori doll on “Play School”. The other dominant Maori narrative that most Kiwi kids would be exposed to was the Legends of Maui. In one such legend, Maui is disappointed with the way that his people can never seem to get their work done before it got dark. He decides to capture the Sun and tell it to slow down. The stories of Maui have always captivated my imagination and introduced me to the concept of mythology as a narrative tool.

I have had this image in my head for a long time and wanted to visually represent the story of “capturing the sun”. If you would like to find this spot - head to the epic Northland beach of Matapouri and go for a wee explore.