Whale Rider Quotes Flashcards
Description of Paikea
‘Wonderous to look upon, shining with splendour, dazzled with diamond spray, the gift long waited for’
Koro’s reaction to having a girl grandchild
“A girl,” Koro Apirana, our grandfather, said, disgusted. “I will have nothing to do with her. She has broken the male line of descent in our tribe”.
Koro’s patriarchal views
The trouble was that Koro Apirana could not reconcile his traditional beliefs about Māori leadership and rights with Kahu’s birth. By Māori custom, leadership was hereditary and normally the mantle of prestige fell from the eldest son to the eldest son. Except that in this case, there was an eldest daughter.
Nani Flowers ancestors
Nani Flowers - ‘ I’m a descendant of old Muriwai, and she was the greatest chief of my tribe.’
Kahu’s naming
‘The baby could be named Kahu, after Kahutia Te Rangi. Not only was Kahutia Te Rangi a man’s name but it was also the name of the ancestor of our village. Koro Apirana felt that naming a girl-child after the founder of our tribe was belittling Kahutia Te Rangi’s prestige.’
Kahu’s birth cord
‘Your birth cord is here. No matter where you may go, you will always return. You will never be lost to us.’
Paikea’s last spear
‘I saw something flying through the air. It looked like a small spear. Then, far out to sea, I heard a whale sounding.’
Ancient ability to talk to whales
‘In those days man had power over the creatures of land and sea … (Kahutia Te Rangi) brought with him the life-giving forces which would enable us to live in close communion with the world … man might talk with the beasts and creatures of the sea so that all could live in helpful partnership. They taught oneness.’
Language Nests
‘A regular instruction period for the men so that we would be able to learn our history and customs. Just the men … because men were sacred… to keep the Maori language going, and to increase the strength of the tribe.’
Koro as the chief
‘The big chief of the tribe was perhaps more preoccupied with the many serious issues facing the survival of the Maori people and our land.’
Koro and Kahu resemblance
‘It was surprising how closely Kahu and Koro Apirana resembled each other. The only difference was she loved him and he didn’t love her.’
Koro leadership
‘Me and the boys had a grudging admiration for the old fella. He might not always be fair but he was a good fighter for the Maori people…The Maori Man of Steel’
