Trivia for
Whale Rider (2002) More at IMDbPro »

• Director Niki Caro insisted that Rawiri Paratene (Koro) stay in character throughout the entirety of the shooting process.
  
  
• The English translations for the Maori words used in the movie: - Te Reo - Maori language - Kaumatua - Elder - Rangatira - Chief - Wharenui - Meeting house - Tikanga - Customs - Whakapapa - Genealogy - Tapu - Sacred - Waka - Canoe - Haka - Traditional war dance, usually performed by men - Karanga - Call - Karakia - Prayer - Taiaha - Fighting stick - Mau rakau - Stick fighting - Moko/Mokopuna - Grandchild - Marae - Meeting place
  
  
• At auditions for the role of Paikea, Keisha Castle-Hughes told casting directors that she could swim. However, when it came time to film the swimming scenes, she admitted she couldn't but she did it anyway.
  
  
• Many of Pai's swimming scenes were in fact done by Keisha Castle-Hughes's stand-in Waio Parata-Haua, because Keisha could not swim well.
  
  
• Niki Caro said during the director's commentary that Pai's crying speech scene was done in one take, but using two cameras. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties there was a short break however, in which time Keisha Castle-Hughes's tutor and chaperon helped her to stay in character in with the same emotions.
  
  
• A scene showing Keisha Castle-Hughes vomiting was cut because Niki Caro felt that Keisha's vomiting wasn't convincing enough.
  
  
• Much of the film is about Paikea doing traditional Maori things which women were not supposed to do (e.g. sitting in the canoe, fighting). The film cast and crew performed special Maori chants in order to ward off traditional bad luck that might arise from Keisha Castle-Hughes doing the things as part of the film.
  
  
• Witi Ihimaera's 1987 source novel is now a fixture on the New Zealand school syllabus.
  
  
• The whales in the movie were depicted using a combination of footage of real whales, life size models (some with humans creating movement) and CGI. Keisha Castle-Hughes said the key whale riding scene took place 15-20 miles offshore and was terrifying.
  
  
• Keisha Castle-Hughes is the youngest ever nominee for a Best Actress Academy Award as she was twelve years old in 2002 when she was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress.
  
  

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