We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Whale Rider

Whale Rider

Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 2002

PG
Parental Guidance
The genius of the movie is the way it sidesteps all of the obvious cliches of the underlying story and makes itself fresh, observant, tough and genuinely moving ... this is not a simplistic fable but the story of real people living in modern times.
– Roger Ebert in a Chicago Star-Times review, 20 June 2003

If you liked this, you might also like...

Collection
Collection image for NZ Book Collection

NZ Book Collection

This collection features screen adaptations from New...

Collection
Collection image for Top 10 NZ Feature Films

Top 10 NZ Feature Films

NZ On Screen has selected an all-time NZ feature film Top...

Collection
Collection image for Kiwi Oscar Heroes

Kiwi Oscar Heroes

A collection of films that have seen Kiwis winning glory...

Collection
Collection image for The NZ Film Commission turns 40

The NZ Film Commission turns 40

A collection celebrating 40 years of the NZ Film...

Collection
Collection image for Thirty Years of South Pacific Pictures

Thirty Years of South Pacific Pictures

From Marlin Bay to Westside — and so much more in between...

Collection
Collection image for The Coming-of-Age Collection

The Coming-of-Age Collection

From The God Boy to Boy, plus singers, whale riders and...

Collection
Collection image for Best of the 00s

Best of the 00s

A collection celebrating classic television, film and...

Thumbnail image for The Silent One

The Silent One

Another relationship between a child and a sea creature

Thumbnail image for Behind the Scenes of Whale Rider

Behind the Scenes of Whale Rider

Making of documentary

Thumbnail image for The Lost Whales

The Lost Whales

Documentary about southern right whales

Thumbnail image for Kaleidoscope - Witi Ihimaera

Kaleidoscope - Witi Ihimaera

Documentary about Whale Rider author Witi Ihimaera

Thumbnail image for The Vintner's Luck

The Vintner's Luck

Also starring Keisha Castle-Hughes and directed by Niki Caro

Thumbnail image for in beTWEEN - Politics

in beTWEEN - Politics

Actor Rawiri Paratene talks about whales in this kids show

Thumbnail image for Kaitangata Twitch - First Episode

Kaitangata Twitch - First Episode

Another determined young female Māori protagonist

Thumbnail image for Witi Ihimaera: Roimata Toroa

Witi Ihimaera: Roimata Toroa

Author Witi Ihimaera returns home

Thumbnail image for Boy

Boy

Another tale of a Māori East Coast childhood

Thumbnail image for Opo

Opo

Actor Rawiri Paratene and a dolphin

Thumbnail image for Jubilee

Jubilee

Cliff Curtis's first lead role in a feature film

Thumbnail image for Bad Note for a Heart

Bad Note for a Heart

Straitjacket Fits music video directed by Niki Caro

Thumbnail image for E Tipu e Rea - Variations on a Theme

E Tipu e Rea - Variations on a Theme

Short drama featuring Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for Ngāti Porou East Coast 2001 - True Colours

Ngāti Porou East Coast 2001 - True Colours

A documentary on an East Coast community & their rugby team

Thumbnail image for The Sea Child

The Sea Child

Short film about a Māori girl and the sea

Thumbnail image for The Day Morris Left

The Day Morris Left

A short film starring Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for Aroha: A Story of the Māori People

Aroha: A Story of the Māori People

Another Māori woman caught between modernity & tradition

Thumbnail image for Footage

Footage

Also directed by Niki Caro

Thumbnail image for The Wall

The Wall

Directed by Whale Rider’s casting director Diana Rowan

Thumbnail image for For Art's Sake - Waiora

For Art's Sake - Waiora

Rawiri Paratene also stars in this play

Thumbnail image for The Insatiable Moon

The Insatiable Moon

Rawiri Paratene stars

Thumbnail image for Joe and Koro - High Society

Joe and Koro - High Society

Also starring Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for Illustrious Energy

Illustrious Energy

Directed by Whale Rider cinematographer Leon Narbey

Thumbnail image for Va Tapuia - Sacred Spaces

Va Tapuia - Sacred Spaces

Also shot by Leon Narbey

Thumbnail image for The Orator - O Le Tulafale

The Orator - O Le Tulafale

Also shot by Leon Narbey

Thumbnail image for The Dark Horse

The Dark Horse

Also stars Cliff Curtis

Thumbnail image for Old Bastards

Old Bastards

Niki Caro also directed this short film

Thumbnail image for 12 Bar Rhythm 'n Shoes - Series Two, Episode One

12 Bar Rhythm 'n Shoes - Series Two, Episode One

Also features Vicky Haughton

Thumbnail image for Kiwi Flyer

Kiwi Flyer

Kiwi kids’ movie

Thumbnail image for Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion

Another generational culture clash

Thumbnail image for Arriving Tuesday

Arriving Tuesday

Also stars Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for White Lies

White Lies

From the same author and producer

Thumbnail image for Frontseat - Who Can Play Māori

Frontseat - Who Can Play Māori

Discussion on actors playing other races and iwi

Thumbnail image for A Whale's Tale

A Whale's Tale

Whale watching in Kaikōura

Thumbnail image for Nights in the Gardens of Spain

Nights in the Gardens of Spain

Another adaptation of an Ihimaera story

Thumbnail image for The Graffiti of Mr Tupaia

The Graffiti of Mr Tupaia

Also starring Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for Ihimaera

Ihimaera

Documentary about a musical project inspired by Witi...

Thumbnail image for Swagger - Series Four, Episode One

Swagger - Series Four, Episode One

Swimming with whales off Tonga

Thumbnail image for The Painted Lady

The Painted Lady

A short film starring a child actor

Thumbnail image for Beyond the Known World

Beyond the Known World

Another international co-production

Thumbnail image for Ngā Tamatoa: 40 Years On

Ngā Tamatoa: 40 Years On

Rawiri Paratene presents this 2012 documentary

Thumbnail image for Winners & Losers: Big Brother, Little Sister

Winners & Losers: Big Brother, Little Sister

Another adaptation of a Witi Ihimaera story

Thumbnail image for A Whale Out My Window

A Whale Out My Window

More whales

Thumbnail image for Aroha - Irikura

Aroha - Irikura

Cliff Curtis acts in this teleplay

Thumbnail image for Stranded Pearl

Stranded Pearl

Another film featuring Rawiri Paratene

Thumbnail image for Piece of My Heart

Piece of My Heart

Keisha Castle-Hughes co-starred in this TV drama

Thumbnail image for Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema

Documentary on the history of Māori cinema

Thumbnail image for Against the Lights

Against the Lights

Another drama based on a story by Witi Ihimaera

Thumbnail image for Whānau (2008)

Whānau (2008)

Young Māori kids in the 21st century

Thumbnail image for So This Happened - Bekah and Marama

So This Happened - Bekah and Marama

A Kiwi girl tells a tale of discrimination

Thumbnail image for Heartland - East Coast

Heartland - East Coast

A popular documentary series visits the East Coast

Thumbnail image for Lost in Translation 7  - The East Coast Sheet (episode seven)

Lost in Translation 7 - The East Coast Sheet (episode seven)

Mike King travels on the East Coast

Thumbnail image for Gisborne Strikes Back

Gisborne Strikes Back

Documentary celebrating Gisborne

Thumbnail image for Te Pahū

Te Pahū

Actor Rawiri Paratene produced and wrote this show

Thumbnail image for Te Pāmu Kūmara - First Episode

Te Pāmu Kūmara - First Episode

Another tale with a young female Māori protagonist

Thumbnail image for Shortland Street - Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2021

Shortland Street - Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2021

Shortland St celebrates Māori Language week

Thumbnail image for Mahana

Mahana

Another film based on Witi Ihimaera's writing

Thumbnail image for Whare Taonga - Whāngārā

Whare Taonga - Whāngārā

Documentary about the marae featured in the film

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar (Keisha Castle-Hughes)

Intrepid Journeys - Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar (Keisha Castle-Hughes)

Keisha Castle-Hughes goes to East Africa