Every culture has its own traditions and most of the time these traditions are broken when new generations are born. In the film Whale Rider depicts a culture in transition. The Maori, a Polynesian people native to New Zealand, are looking for a male descendant of Paikea, the courageous chief who escaped death on the back of a whale, to lead them and restore traditions. Koro Pai's grandfather was expecting the first born of the new generation who should be chief. Unfortunately, the tradition was broken when Pai's twin brother died. What Koro doesn't understand is that Pai is the leader everyone has been waiting for. The Maori have been waiting for a long time and many have given up hope and are leaving the village. The culture has also become unhealthy, such as when Pai comes home and notices that the women playing cards at the table were smoking. Pai says: “Māori women need to stop smoking, we need to protect our chances of childbearing. » This quote helps to show how women don't care about their health and just smoke. Another example when Pai goes to his uncle Rawiri to ask if he can teach him taiaha, the uncle is just lying around and lazing with his wife who is smoking. Thanks to uncle's laziness, he has gained weight and is no longer thin like before. Maori families also broke up, for example; when Hemi goes up to present, his father only stays for the first part then leaves with his friends. With Hemi's father leaving his presentation early, Hemi feels upset that he really wants to show his father what he has learned about his culture. Another example is how Pai's father leaves Pai with Koro while he is in Germany to pursue his career as an artist. Pai's father leaves her because h...... middle of paper...... Pai climbs on the back of the whale and pulls it into the ocean. The whale brings the rest of the whales back into the sea, while this is happening Nanny gives Koro the whale tooth that Pai had obtained. After Pai is hospitalized, Koro realizes that Pai is the leader everyone expected and asks him for forgiveness. In the end, everyone in the village celebrates his leadership status and, working together, the waka is completed and taken to the sea. Pai says, "My name is Paikea Apirana and I come from a long line of leaders that extends to the rider of the whales. I am not a prophet, but I know that our people will continue to move forward, all together, with all our strength.” This helps to show that even though tradition was broken when she was born, she is ready to be the new change and leader that Māori have been waiting for..