Paikea the Whale Rider – Kaikoura, Canterbury
Maori legend tells the story of the ancestor Paikea who journeyed to a new life in New Zealand on the back of the whale Tohorā. The story represents the spiritual bond between the human and natural worlds, and the potential revealed when nature is respected rather than exploited.
The story of Paikea inspired Witi Ihimaera’s book Whale Rider, which in turn inspired an award-winning film of the same name.
Off the Kaikoura Coast in the South Island, majestic whales dwell beneath the ocean’s surface. If you want to encounter the giants of Paikea’s story, Kaikoura is the place.
On board a Whale Watch Kaikoura tour, visitors feel the connection between the Māori people and the sea as they witness nature at close hand, learn about Kaikoura’s hidden wildlife and hear the legend of Paikea, and other local stories.