The Whale rider

Tradition Conflict

The story is all about how the Maori people will hold on to their tradition while navigating the strange tides of modern times. All of the main characters are impacted by the dynamic between tradition and modernity. Kahu finds herself trapped by traditional gender roles; Koro feels alien in the changing world and struggles to find someone to carry on the Maori banner; Rawiri faces the choice of maintaining his cultural identity or travelling to the big city and just falling into the crowd.

Gender Conflict

The main protagonist of the story—Kahu—as well as many of the other protagonists, including Nanny and Muriwai all are brave, independent female characters. Their stories are meant to empower young women by giving examples of heroines, brave, strong, and dedicated who can do just as much as any male. This is particularly poignant in the setting of Whangara, whose chief Koro refuses to see women as potential leaders in Whangara’s future. As the author explains in his introductory notes, the inspiration of this story came from his two young daughters, who were seeking female role models in a male-dominated literature.