Retelling of the Seven Stars of Matariki

Once there was a brave and daring man called Mitai.
He had been raised by his grandfather who taught him magic and lived in a village called Maketu.
His brothers thought they were the most handsome men in town.
One day the eight brothers were out hunting when he heard beautiful singing. As they climbed up the hill the singing grew stronger. On the top of the hill in the fading evening light the brothers could see 7 beautiful women.
One by one the brothers fell in love – all except Mitai.
“Remember, people that are not of our kind can be dangerous,” warned Mitai who thought they were fairy women.
The brothers took the wives back to marry them. The wives never seemed to leave their houses Mitai noticed.
One day the eldest brother came home from fishing early. He found his wife was not there. He searched his younger brothers’ houses but their wives were not there either. When the other brothers came home the news spread all over the village. That included Mitai.
Mitai had been growing suspicious so he decided to seek the help of Te Rawhara. Te Rawhara agreed that they were fairy women.
“Watch them closely Mitai.”
The next morning Mitai hid behind a tree in his eldest brother’s garden. He was about to give up when he noticed six fantails sitting on a branch and a seventh fly out of the house.
Mitai changed into a wood pigeon and followed them.
When they stopped they turned into his brothers’ wives. Mitai heard that they planned to starve the brothers.
Mitai flew back with the women and went to warn his brothers.
At first they wouldn’t listen until Mitai asked them to look closely at one another.
“You used to be big strong, handsome men but now you are nothing but skin and bone.”
The brothers knew he was right.
“What shall we do,” moaned one of the brothers.
“We must go to Te Rawhara,”answered Mitai.
They all went to Te Rawhara who gave them magic nets he had woven himself.