Legend of the Lost Maori

A Ghost Tribe Series, Volume 1

By: Mr. D. S. Bigelow

Narrated by: Robert Wrenlock of Island Audio

200 years ago...

Men, women, and children flee for their lives as gunfire ricochets all around them. Aranui, chief of the Ghost Tribe, realizes his people are trapped as they arrive at the end of the narrow trail surrounded by rock walls too steep to climb. The British soldiers will reach them soon, and the tribes' hand-held weapons, although formidable, are no match for the soldiers' advanced fire power. Aranui knows there's only one option to ensure his peoples' safety. When the soldiers come to the same dead-end moments later, the Ghost Tribe isn't there.

Present day Auckland

"Your sister is dying."

Kupe, a 10-year-old, is devastated when he hears the grim news about Cecelia, his little sister. That was a while ago, and a bunch of doctors and their modern medicine hasn't been able to help her, so Kupe leaves Auckland. The Maori boy heads to the countryside to seek comfort and advice from Tipuna, his grandfather. Tipuna still believes in many of the old ways of the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand and tells Kupe that Cecelia may be cured of her cancer.

However, the boy must find the Ghost Tribe, a group of ancient Maoris, who are rumored to have magical powers which let them live without the threat of disease or death. But nobody has seen the Ghost Tribe for over 150 years, no one except....

Tipuna gives Kupe a beautifully carved amulet found by a hunter, who claims he witnessed people dressed in 18th century clothes and holding spears in a remote forest that supposedly is haunted. When the warriors realize they are being spied on, they vanish before the hunter's eyes. The only evidence of the mysterious men's presence is the amulet, with a carving of a giant Moa bird, the symbol of the Ghost Tribe.

Alone, armed with nothing but a flashlight, spear, and the amulet, Kupe wastes little time and ventures into the primeval forest at night in search of the Ghost Tribe. He is afraid like he has never been before. Loud screeching noises can be heard just beyond the reach of the flashlight beam, and angry glowing eyes glare at him from the dense foliage.

When a hulking creature charges out of the bushes, Kupe is forced to run for his life. He falls hard and twists his leg, loses the spear, and when the flashlight breaks from the impact of hitting the ground, Kupe is plunged into total darkness. Injured, his problems keep mounting as the creature stalking him not only closes in, but also is joined by an eerie floating light. Is it the Ghost Tribe? Does the amulet hanging around his neck have supernatural powers that might help save him? Time is running out not only for Kupe, but also his ailing sister.

©2014 Darren Scott Bigelow (P)2020 Darren Scott Bigelow

Cute fantasy story, narration a bit cringe

Fun kids story and an introduction to Māori culture. As someone living in New Zealand with kids in Māori immersion school… it was a bit cringe. Felt like an outsider looking in.

Narrator did their best but it still missed the mark. Fire whoever thought they could get away without hiring a Māori or even any kiwi narrator.

If you are unfamiliar with Māori you will probably love the story though!