SKIT: Matariki Dawn

Words and illustration by Nikki Slade Robinson who turned her book The Little Kiwi’s Matariki into this skit especially for Wild Things readers.

Characters:

Kiwi
Weka
Ruru
Tūī
Katipō
Tāwhirimātea

The five creatures are around the stage, asleep. KIWI and WEKA are in their burrows. TŪĪ and RURU are up trees. KATIPŌ is in the beach grass. Suddenly, a beam of light shines onto KIWI.

KIWI: (Squinting at the sky) Aue! Who turned on the lights? Oh, it’s you, te Marama. But you only shine in my burrow once a year. That means… I’d better get a move on!

KIWI emerges and rushes around, calling.

KIWI: Kee-wee! Kee-wee!

KIWI finds WEKA.

KIWI: Wake up, Weka!

WEKA: (Waking up) Eh? But I was dreaming of kai reka, yummy food, and I was just getting to the
dessert. What’s the panic?

KIWI: Follow me. Kia tere, hurry!

KIWI and WEKA rush around together.

KIWI: Kee-wee! Kee-wee!

WEKA: Uuu-iii! Uuu-iii!

KIWI and WEKA find RURU.

KIWI: Wake up, Ruru!

RURU: Eh? But I was dreaming of my whānau, my family, coming home. What’s the rush?

KIWI: Follow us. Kia tere, hurry!

KIWI, WEKA and RURU rush around together.

KIWI: Kee-wee! Kee-wee!

WEKA: Uuu-iii! Uuu-iii!

RURU: Ruu-ruu! Ruu-ruu!

They find TŪĪ.

KIWI: Wake up Tūī!

TŪĪ: Eh? But I was dreaming about winning X-Factor with my waiata, my song. What’s going on?

KIWI: Follow us. Kia tere, hurry!

KIWI, WEKA , RURU, and TŪĪ rush around together.

KIWI: Kee-wee! Kee-wee!

WEKA: Uuu-iii! Uuu-iii!

RURU: Ruu-ruu! Ruu-ruu!

TŪĪ: Oo-ii-uu! Oo-ii-uu!

They find KATIPŌ.

KIWI: Wake up Katipō!

KATIPŌ: Eh? But I was weaving a new pattern in my dreams. What’s up?

KIWI: Follow us. Kia tere, hurry!

KIWI, WEKA , RURU, TŪĪ, and KATIPŌ rush around together.

TĀWHIRIMĀTEA: (From offstage) RAAAAARRRR!

KIWI: Aiee! What’s that!?

KATIPŌ: Chill. It’s just Tāwhirimātea, God of the Wind, waiting for us.

KIWI: Um, I knew that. Not scared at all.

WEKA: So… now what?

KIWI: Titiro – look.

KIWI, WEKA , RURU, TŪĪ, and KATIPŌ move forward, gazing out at the horizon, and gasp. 

KIWI: Haere i te ata tū, ka puta mai ngā whetū Matariki! The light comes, and the stars of Matariki!

WEKA: Chur! Matariki? Time for kai reka, yummy food!

RURU: Time for whānau, family!

TŪĪ: Time for waiata and kanikani, song and dance!

KATIPŌ: And time for flying my webbed pākau, my kite!

ALL: Happy Matariki!

TĀWHIRIMĀTEA: (From offstage) RAAAAARRRR!