Kahu and the Taniwha retold by PP

On the other side of a mountain, between Rotorua and Waikato, there are two tracks.  One short and one long.  A taniwha lived on the short track.  Kahu was fed up with taking the long track to see his girlfriend Koka in Rotorua.  One day Kahu said to Koka's father, "If I can get the taniwha to move to the long track, will you let me marry your daughter?"  So he agreed and said he knew something that might help the taniwha, and that was to get his back scratched. 

Kahu found him lying in the sun and so Kahu went up and scratched his back.
"Ooooooooooooh ... mmmmmmmm ... a bit lower ..... that's nice"

"I could find you a wife to scratch your back, but only if you move to the other track."

"Anything, anything" said the taniwha. 

Kahu went to Pukana's house.  "I have found you a husband who lives on the short track to Rotorua". 

"But only a taniwha lives there" said Pukana.

"That's him."

"Well, I think that living with a taniwha is better than living in this dump", she said, so they went to the taniwha's pit.

"Now, sneak in and scratch his back" whispered Kahu.

"Oooooooooooh yuck!  You're all dirty and mucky" said the taniwha.
"But I'll scratch your back when you want" Pukana promised.

"Oh alright." said the taniwha and to keep his side of the bargain, he lifted her onto his back and flew to the long track. 

Two weeks after, Kahu and Koka were married.  Some days after that, they went for a walk.  The taniwha saw them and he saw Koka, swooped down, picked her up and took her home.  Kahu felt heart-broken and angry and he asked four men to make a trap for the taniwha.  They ran up to the pit angrily.  "I have come for Koka!" threatened Kahu.  "Don't make me laugh" growled taniwha and chased him. 

"Now!" shouted Kahu and then men pulled the trap.  The flax rope went through the taniwha's neck.  After that, Kahu ran up to the taniwha and took Koka down off his shoulders.  Then they went back on their journey. They were all so happy.