Whale Rider By Witi Ihimaera
Whale Rider
By: Witi Ihimaera
SUMMARY
The Whangara tribe (a Maori tribe in New Zealand) is traditionally led by a male.
However, this tradition is put under threat when first-born great grandchild, Kahu, is a girl. Koro Apirana, her great grandfather, and chief of the tribe is disappointed, and rejects the loving attention of Kahu. He wants a male heir to inherit the title of chief, the tradition since the first whale rider arrived in New Zealand.
The Whangara tribe are proud of their traditions and history, and Koro teaches the youngsters about their past. The tribe believe that they are descendants of Paikea who escaped drowning by riding to dry land on the back of a whale. The Maori community knows that the whales represent both their tradition and their future. They are concerned about their future without a male leader, although the reader is left confident that Kahu has, in some mysterious way, been selected to lead her people.
Kahu has an extremely close relationship with her uncle, and the narrator of the story,
Rawiri. Rawiri feels obliged to leave the village to broaden his experiences, but the draw of the tribe is too great and he returns, to experience Kahu’s love, and to witness Koro’s continued contempt for Kahu.
The tribe face a crisis when over two hundred whales beach themselves at Whangara.
The tribe battle to save the whales, but gradually all of the whales die. However, this event is followed by the arrival of a spiritual, tattooed whale which forced itself onto the beach. The tribe believe that their destiny depends on their ability to save this spiritual whale. The men of the tribe fail, and so call for the help of the women, but they only partially succeed. All seems lost until Kahu uses her ability to communicate with the whales and, riding the enormous bull whale, guides them all back to sea. At last, Koro acknowledges that tradition must change and gives his love and support to Kahu as a future leader.
BACKGROUND
The Maori were
By: Witi Ihimaera
SUMMARY
The Whangara tribe (a Maori tribe in New Zealand) is traditionally led by a male.
However, this tradition is put under threat when first-born great grandchild, Kahu, is a girl. Koro Apirana, her great grandfather, and chief of the tribe is disappointed, and rejects the loving attention of Kahu. He wants a male heir to inherit the title of chief, the tradition since the first whale rider arrived in New Zealand.
The Whangara tribe are proud of their traditions and history, and Koro teaches the youngsters about their past. The tribe believe that they are descendants of Paikea who escaped drowning by riding to dry land on the back of a whale. The Maori community knows that the whales represent both their tradition and their future. They are concerned about their future without a male leader, although the reader is left confident that Kahu has, in some mysterious way, been selected to lead her people.
Kahu has an extremely close relationship with her uncle, and the narrator of the story,
Rawiri. Rawiri feels obliged to leave the village to broaden his experiences, but the draw of the tribe is too great and he returns, to experience Kahu’s love, and to witness Koro’s continued contempt for Kahu.
The tribe face a crisis when over two hundred whales beach themselves at Whangara.
The tribe battle to save the whales, but gradually all of the whales die. However, this event is followed by the arrival of a spiritual, tattooed whale which forced itself onto the beach. The tribe believe that their destiny depends on their ability to save this spiritual whale. The men of the tribe fail, and so call for the help of the women, but they only partially succeed. All seems lost until Kahu uses her ability to communicate with the whales and, riding the enormous bull whale, guides them all back to sea. At last, Koro acknowledges that tradition must change and gives his love and support to Kahu as a future leader.
BACKGROUND
The Maori were