Hatupatu and the Bird Woman

Hatupatu, the youngest of three brothers, was often mistreated by his siblings during their hunting trips. While deep in the forest of the North Island, Hatupatu was captured by Kurungaituku, a fearsome ogress known as the Bird Woman. She had wings on her arms and sharp talons, and she carried him back to her mountain cave to keep as a pet. Her home was filled with preserved birds, lizards, and treasures. One day, while Kurungaituku was away hunting, Hatupatu escaped, killing all her pet birds except for one small bird that flew to find its mistress. Kurungaituku heard the bird's cry and pursued Hatupatu with giant, earth-shaking strides. Reaching the geothermal region of Whakarewarewa, Hatupatu used a magical charm to command a rock to open, hiding him until the ogress passed. When he emerged, the chase resumed. Hatupatu, knowing the terrain, leaped nimbly over the treacherous, boiling sulfur pools. Kurungaituku, blinded by rage and unable to see the danger, stepped directly into a steaming cauldron of mud. The Bird Woman perished in the scalding depths, and Hatupatu returned to his people, no longer a bullied boy but a legendary hero.