Contents
What does the whale tooth symbolize in whale rider?
A whale rider symbolizes someone possessing the attributes of a Maori leader. The rei puta, or whale tooth, is a symbol of a leader’s status or position within the tribe. The name, Paikea is both a reference to Pai’s ancestor and a symbol of her destiny to become a leader.
What does Kahutia Te Rangi mean?
Kahutia-te-Rangi = ancestor of the people of Te Tai Rawhiti (Maori: “the place washed by the eastern tide”), who travelled from Hawaiiki (land of the Ancients) to Aotearoa (New Zealand), according to Maori oral traditions.
What does Kahu do in the whale rider?
In The Whale Rider, Kahu is a young Maori girl who wants to be the chief of her tribe, but cannot be because in her culture that role is only for men. She uses her gifts of communicating with nature to save a beached pod of whales, and because of that she is finally accepted.
Does Pai die in whale rider?
The girl, Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) survives. Her father, Porourangi (Cliff Curtis), an artist, leaves New Zealand, and the little girl is raised and much loved by her grandparents Koro and Nanny Flowers. Koro is the chief of these people.
What is the main conflict of Whale Rider?
The conflict between Pai and her grandfather is the main conflict in the film. He doesn’t want to see her become chief despite his love for her; he believes that the traditional way of doing things is the right way to do it.
What are the major themes in the Whale Rider?
The Whale Rider Themes
- Sacredness of Nature and Corruption of Man. A key theme of the story is the sacredness of nature.
- Tradition vs. Modernity.
- Racism and Cultural Identity.
- Love.
- Female Role Models vs.
- Rigid Literalism vs.
- The Cyclical Nature of Time.
Who is Uenuku?
Uenuku is a taonga (treasure) of the Tainui people. Uenuku was the god of the rainbow, and the style of this striking representation is unlike most Māori carvings. Uenuku was lost during the battle of Hingakākā between Ngāti Toa and Waikato tribes about 1780, and was rediscovered near Lake Ngāroto many years later.
How old is Pai in Whale Rider?
Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai loves Koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.
Are the whales in Whale Rider real?
The whales in the movie were depicted using a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Keisha Castle-Hughes said the key whale riding scene took place 15-20 miles offshore and was terrifying.
Who does Pai live with?
Pai lives with her grandparents, Koro and Nanny Flowers. 6. Porourangi is angry with Koro, and leaves.
What are the symbols in Whale Rider and what significance?
If Paikea (ancestor) hadent rode the whale, they wouldn’t be in New Zealand. the rope is also a symbol in whale rider because it symbolises the ancestral line of the Maori community that they live in.when the rope is broken it symbolises the community falling apart. paikea then fixes the rope and this is as if she has rejoined the community.
What kind of whale is at the head of the Whale Rider?
At their head is a great bull whale with an ancient sacred Maori tattoo. The bull whale pulls itself onto shore and strands itself there, waiting for its death.
Why is the rope important in Whale Rider?
The rope is a symbol in the whale rider because it symbolises the ancestral line of the Maori community that they live in. When the rope is broken it symbolises the community is broken and falling apart. Paikea then fixes the rope and its as if she has rejoined the community again.
Is the taiaha used in the movie Whale Rider?
The unit badge of the RNZAF Police depicts a griffin holding a Taiaha. The taiaha was featured in the award-winning 2002 film, Whale Rider and more briefly in the film Once Were Warriors. In the TV series, Deadliest Warrior, the taiaha is one of the Māori warrior’s weapons in a contest with a Shaolin monk.