Synopsis: Once upon a taniwha

In Maori lore, taniwha have inhabited the land, air and water of Aotearoa / New Zealand since the sky and the earth were separated. Before Spike was one, Frank had made him a song about ‘Fred the magic taniwha’ who lived by the sea in a land called Hataitai. Peter, Paul and Mary gave the tune and Whataitai was a taniwha from the waters near our home. In Spike’s second year, he asked for pictures and a story. Then he began to ask for drawings of taniwha doing particular things. ‘Fish’ was Spike’s first word, so they were included. And berries and marshmallows arrived as treats. Time passed and Spike began to draw his own pictures and to suggest words for the poems which began to grow alongside. Now Frank offers drawings and poems; Spike tests rhythms and rhymes and antics. These taniwha continue their role as guardians of places and of all the living things that belong in them. How better to protect than with love, laughter and a lick?
Our taniwha says:
“I was not given life to go about being sour and keep to myself that which my ancestors knew. I was given life to grow and learn, to mix and test, and to respect the ways of others as I go.
So I play a lot – or so I’m told – and get bored with doing nothing. I’d rather be chasing a volcano fish in the sea, climbing a tree for fruit or swimming through clouds to see who comes out the most wet.
Here are some of my adventures”

1. I am a taniwha
My name is Fred
I used to sleep
Under Spike’s bed
And Spike has asked that I tell the story of how I came to be under his bed, where I lived before that and of all the wonderful things I have seen in my adventures. Being a taniwha, I don’t know much about my family. Once we get big enough to leave the nest, we travel around a lot and sometimes don’t see anyone we know for ages. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning then move on to the middle. And maybe we’ll reach the end a bit after that.