Whale Rider Analysis

In the movie Whale Rider, Paikea, there’s a point in the film that Nanny Flowers explains to Paikea that her grandfather (Koro) has a lot of rules he has to live by. “Rules” reflects the groups’ “culture” because they show the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and actions of members of a society which help them make sense of the world. Some of the rules that Koro lives by having to do with the customs of Maori and he seems so compelled to follow them so strictly is because of assimilation and preserving the Maori culture. When assimilation happens, the culture of any slowly disappears and is forgotten. The first example that shows that “rules” reflect a groups’ “culture” is the story of Paikea, the Maori ancestor. The story of Paikea gives Maori a sense of identity. The story of Paikea also shows the shared belief in their ancestor because they believe in the same story of how Paikea led their people to New Zealand. The second example that shows that “rules”reflect a groups’ culture is the way the Maori people preserve their culture. Some of the examples of how the Maori people preserve their culture is having the chief test given by the Tikanga and speaking the language of Te Reo. The third example that shows that “rules” reflect a groups’ “culture” is the way the Maori people communicating. The way the Maori people communicate with each other is speaking in their native language which is Te Reo. The first example that shows some of the customs that Koro has to live by