The art of myth-making

Whale Rider director Niki Caro speaks to The Age about the intricate cultural process involved in a “white woman” making a Maori film. Despite early resistance to her involvement, and her subsequent self-doubt, Caro feels vindicated by the remarkable emotional response the film has elicited around the world and, most importantly, in NZ. “It’s just a total lovefest … For a lot of pakeha people it’s opening the Maori world up to them, the Maori world that I know, which is very positive and strong and important and spiritual … The film offers a little portal into it, and I think people are really grateful for that.”