The Seven Stars of Matariki by Alistair.

Long, long ago in a small village in Maketu on top of Pukemaire hill lived a young man called Matai who had the power to soar with the help of Tawhirimatea the wind God.

 Matai lived with his seven brothers. Matai's brothers were as vain as Hercules. One night the seven brothers were entranced with this beautiful singing. The seven brothers were so handsome they wouldn't marry anyone less beautiful than themselves. But this time was different. Standing near the top of Pukemaire hill were these lovely wahine. Their skin was so white it shone with the stars among them. Each wahine had long flowing golden hair that made them glow even more. "Women of strange beauty can only bring harm!" warned Matai. But their singing was so beautiful the seven brothers didn't notice Matai. "These women are not our kind they are patupaiarehe." But the seven brothers still didn't listen. 

They listened only to the wahine and decided to take them home as their wives. The wives only ate Kaimoana, so the brothers were always sent to collect more fish for them. One day the oldest brother came back early from fishing and looked for his wife but she was nowhere to be found. He searched in his younger brother's houses and his wife wasn't there either. 

He told Matai and Matai was suspicious. Matai sneaked around and looked for the attractive wahine. Matai came upon six piwakawaka who were perched upon a twig. "Near the whare." said Matai. Matai grew suspiciosbut to his amazement a seventh piwakawaka came out of the whare. Matai changed form into a kereru and spied on them as they changed form into the wahine again. 

Straight away Matai knew they were Patupaiarehe. He heard them plotting a plan to starve Matai's brothers to death. Matai flew around the other side and through the back door. He told his brothers  but they wouldn't listen. "Don't believe me then. Look at each other. All you are is skin and bone." Matai told them. The haggard brothers looked at each other. "We've been fooled! What do we do Matai?" asked the eldest brother. "We go to the Tohunga. He'll know what to do." answered Matai. 

 Matai told Tohunga all about the patupaiarehe. Tohunga told Matai that they lived there and they wanted their hill back. Tohunga gave the eight brothers a corner or side of a magical net. That day they waited for the seven piwakawaka to come out. Once they came out the eight brothers threw the net on top of the patupaiarehe. "Release us!" cried the wahine. But it was too late. Matai changed form into a Toroa and gave them to the Star God. "I'll take them far away." said the star God. 

 Like the brothers he fell in love with the Patupaiarehe and he kept them in the heavens but once a year they shine down radiantly over the brothers and they feel very sad but relieved.