I had a wonderful two days coaching at CrossFit New Zealand in Auckland. To boot, it was my first time in Kiwi Land and I honestly look forward to returning for a longer period of time in the not too distant future to explore the isles.
Anyhoo. I was working with my group outside the box where one could see a swamp on the opposite side of the fence. As you do, we were catching up on some rays and fresh air before heading back for another lecture when I spotted a chicken-lookalike-but-not-a-chicken wading through the swamp. And so enters the Pukeko, my world.
And talk about timing. Just earlier during my lecture I mentioned how we South Africans adore animal analogies to explain how I use the term "chicken neck" when training athletes to retract the head thus ensuring a straight bar path when performing any of the movements in the Shoulder Press series. We were in stitches at my attempts of changing chicken neck to Pukeko neck. You try saying "Pukeko" as fast as you can a few times...not pretty.
So intrigued by this feathered friend was I that I had to Google it later that night back at the Hotel. Yes, I am a nerd. Confirmed, once again.
And look what I found! A children's story based on the pecking and wading mannerisms of the bird. Gotta love it, certainly explains a lot :)
Why the Pukeko Lives Near Swamps
"Many years ago the pukeko used to live in the hills. One day, however, one beautiful pukeko, dressed in his lovely blue plumage and proudly showing his crimson legs and beak, was walking along and flicking his tail at nearly every step he took, when he came across some Maori children playing near a geyser, not far from their pa. The pukeko patiently watched the happy children playing. When their mother called them away to have some food, the pukeko went to see what toys they had been playing with. He noticed, among other things, a handsome greenstone tiki. Very pleased at finding such a curious object, he decided to show it to the other pukekos. So, taking the tiki in his beak, he hurried home as fast as he could go.
As he was crossing some swampy land, a hungry eel bit his leg. Startled, the pukeko opened his beak, let out a squeak–and so lost the tiki in the swamp.
The poor pukeko felt very sad, for he wanted to return the tiki after he had shown it to his friends. When he told them his unhappy story, they said, ‘Don't worry, we shall all help you to find the greenstone tiki. We shall not live in the hills any more, but near the swamps.’
The pukekos have been looking for the tiki ever since, in the swamps. I hope they find it—don't you?"
by G. N. Lansdown
