![Whale Rider Poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500//1ZQSkyEDRJdk6TCAThBojB5hJcK.jpg)
Whale Rider
70.72%
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January 30, 2003
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Drama, Family
On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first-born, always male, have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. 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.
Featured Crew
Niki Caro
Director
Witi Ihimaera
Author
Niki Caro
Screenplay
Cast
![Keisha Castle-Hughes](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300//9lBukGiFVV0pKNwndaNhRQVnNmt.jpg)
Keisha Castle-Hughes
Paikea Apirana
![Rawiri Paratene](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300//oGSLpDSqlNlSCt7evHz3EPlDET2.jpg)
Rawiri Paratene
Koro
![Vicky Haughton](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300//9LaetM0NZBibp6zwkiMqOdXjbM5.jpg)
Vicky Haughton
Nanny Flowers
![Cliff Curtis](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300//3D6qz8vL6DWHAO3HeXeaSuwxq3s.jpg)
Cliff Curtis
Porourangi
![Grant Roa](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w300//soSfJeqpj7RKAXxpdKZONOXETBq.jpg)
Grant Roa
Uncle Rawiri