Paikea: he ariki, he tipua, he tangata / the legend, the ancient being, the person
Abstract
The Whale Rider " (1987) is described as a novel that retells the 'myth' of Paikea, the East Coast ancestor famed for arriving to the shores of Aotearoa-New Zealand on the back of a whale.What may appear as a work of fiction to some, to the descendants of Paikea he teaches us how to avoid impending death through an utter belief in our intangible connection with the spiritual world.This article looks at the ongoing influence the exploits of Paikea have on his descendants today.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
Study and Philosophy of Religion
Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- transcript Verlag eBooks
- Pages
- 193–200
- Publication date
- 9 January 2026
- Document type
- Book chapter