Witi Ihimaera

The classic book that inspired the award-winning, internationally released film Whale Rider, winner of Best Film at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and 2004 Academy Awards Best Actress nomination for Keisha Castle-Hughes. Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather’s love and attention. But he’s focused in his duties as Chief, in a tribe that claims decent from the legendary “whale rider”. A male has always inherited the title of Chief, but now there is no male heir. There’s only Kahu, and her great-grandfather sees no use for a girl. Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle she has a unique ally: the whale rider himself.