Few people have ventured so far into the deep dark woods to see if it really exists. One person who has tried to see the fairies was a girl named Amokura.
Amokura always daydreamed about catching a fairy.
Her Nana had told her that if you can catch a fairy, you'll live forever.
One night, while everyone was sleeping, Amokura took her kete and filled it with dried pipis and snuck out.
The moon was shining bright so it was easy for Amokura to see. She could see the guard standing high on the platform over looking the stony entrance. She knew that if she went that way, he would not let her pass, and surely tell Nana. The only way she could go was to slip through the gap in the t-tree fence that led right past the atamira - the platform upon which the bones of dead people were laid.
Amokura shivered with fear. The moon reflected on the white bones that stared at her from their platform. Amokura gathered up all her courage and quickly ran past, trying not to look up.
The bush behind the pa was thick and prickly. The moon hid behind a cloud so Amokura had to feel her way through. Still frightened from the atamira, Amokura forgot about the eel pit and fell in. A slimy eel brushed against her leg and Amokura let out a shriek.
Just then the gum digger came, probably awaken by her cry. He took her back to his hut to dry off by his fire. Amokura looked at all his wonderful treasures. She was attracted to a glass jar that stood beside a photo of a beautiful lady. "Would you like one?" said the gum digger. Amokura nodded quickly as he handed her a black and white striped lolly.
Dry and warm, Amokura thanked the gum digger for the lolly and continued on her way.
There is a legend in Awarua of a mythical fairy village, hidden deep in the forest at Te Patoa.
But Nana forbid her from going into the woods near their pa.
"The kehua will catch you and keep you at their kainga" her Nana said. But Amokura did not listen.
Paige Denyse Rogers
