“Ngā Ika ā Whiro”
When Tāne ascended up to the heavens to seek “Ngā Kete o te Wananga” (the baskets of knowledge), his older brother Whiro was furious; he considered he had more right to the task than Tāne. So Whiro sent plagues of insects, reptiles and birds to attack Tāne, which complicated his task; but with the assistance of Tawhiri-mātea (god of the winds), he was able to continue until he arrived at the summit of the heavens. On his return expedition, Whiro and his plague again attacked Tāne; when he finally reached earth, Whiro insisted that he should be the custodian of the treasures. Tāne with his supporters rejected his demands so Whiro was eventually exiled to the underworld where he still dwells, and continually endeavors to wreak havoc for the gods and mankind. Therefore the team that displays the determination and audacity within their sports code should receive the honour and admiration of this award.
I te wā I kake ā Tāne ki te rapu I “Ngā Kete o te Wānanga” I te pukuriri tana taina ā Whiro; nā te mea ki ōna whakaaro koia kē te mea tika. Ka tonoa e Whiro ngā namu, ngā nangara me ngā manu ki te patu I ā Tāne, kia uaua tana haere; engari ngā te āwhina atu ā Tāwhiri-matea ka taea e ia ki ā tae atu ki te taumata o ngā rangi. Nā runga I tōna hekenga mai kātahi ka nengei atu anō ā Whiro me tana tauā hei patu ia Tāne. Nā tana taenga mai ki te whenua, ka kī atu ā Whiro koia hei kaitiaki mō ngā taonga. Ka whakahētia e Tāne me ana kai-tautoko kātahi ka panaia ā Whiro ki rarohenga ki te wāhi kei reira tonu ia I tēnei rā, e whakanungu ana I ngā ira-atua me ngā ira-tangata. Nō reira ko te tira kei I ā rātau wēnei pūkenga whakanungu, whakaparahako I roto I ā rātau ake hākinakina, e riro ai tēnei taonga kia rātau.