Long ago the kiwi was like other birds, flitting around the treetops. But then the forest became infested with a plague of insects and Tane called on the birds to come down to the forest floor to save the trees.
All refused, except for the kiwi, which bravelyaccepted Tane's terms: to become flightless, strong-legged and brown.
In punishment, Tane then changed the other birds as well, and this mythical story becomes a pleasing character study of each native bird. Beautifully illustrated.
