Whāngārā (Whale Rider Location)
Whāngārā
A small Māori village where legend says the ancestor Paikea rode a whale to land, and where the film Whale Rider was shot.
Whāngārā is home to the Ngāti Konohi iwi. Legend says the ancestor Paikea rode a whale across the ocean from Hawaiki to arrive here, and a rider figure appears on the roof of the meeting house. The 2002 film Whale Rider was shot here, which brought the village wide recognition. It is a private community, and visitors may not enter the meeting house or private homes. You can only view the bay and islands from the roadside, so please do not enter without permission. It is about 30 km from Gisborne and can be visited on the way to Tolaga Bay.
Opening hours
Viewing from a distance only
Nearby sights
- Tatapouri Reef Ecology Tour (Dive Tatapouri)
- Makorori Beach
- Wainui Beach
- Cook's Cove Walkway
- Tolaga Bay Wharf
- Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae
- Tairāwhiti Museum
- Gisborne Inner Harbour