Pātaka and the story of Tinirau and the whale
Some patterns on pātaka probably have their origins in the story of the chief Tinirau and his pet whale Tutunui.
Whale People
Humans have revered whales, hunted them, and explored their astounding adaptations to life in the sea.
Meet some of the people whose lives have been inextricably linked with whales – from legendary South Pacific whale riders to whale scientists and former whaling families.
Pātaka taonga
A modern interpretation of a storehouse for treasures.
Whale land
Māori traditions, customs, and ways of relating to the land.
Whale riders
Discover some of the rich whale-riding traditions of Māori culture.
Whaling, then and now
Māori and other South Pacific harvested food and materials from whales that occasionally stranded on their shores.