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Production
of Paikea by Nikao Maori Primary School, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
In
the last school term of 2003, students and teachers from Nikao
Maori School put on a dramatic production of Paikea, with support
from the Rarotonga Environmental Awareness Programme and Small
Islands Voice.
The
following is a summary of the production, which is also the subject
of the movie 'Whale Rider'.
On
the island of Akatokamanava in the Cook Islands a baby boy was
born by the name Kapua -i - te rangi. He was taught all the skills
of life by his father. He was a well known warrior on the island,
because he is so fast that no one could chase after him. His Dad
named him PAIKEA (after a crab in the bush). He was very skilful
in fishing. He married a woman named Kea.
Paikea as a small boy
Paikea getting married to his wife, Kea
Paikea fishing
One
evening they went fishing for koperu (mackerel). Kea sat on the
shore and waited while her husband was out fishing in his paiere
(canoe). A sudden wind blew, a hurricane started. He could not
do anything. Kea cried for him and passed away on the rocky shore
(ruatete).
Paikea
drifted away and landed on Mangaia, another island in the Cook
Islands. The people on this island do not welcome visitors on
land. They kill them. But luckily, Terei, Paikea's cousin was
there and he asked the islanders not to kill him, instead to put
him on a vaka (double canoe) and send him out to sea in the hope
that he would die.
Paikea
prayed to his God, Tangaroa, to take him to land. He arrived here
on Rarotonga and was welcomed by the Chiefs of Takitumu, a village.
Paikea
arrives on Rarotonga and is welcomed by the Chief of Takitumu
He stayed there for quite a while. The thought of his wife and
homeland haunted him and he was homesick and thought of returning
home. He started his journey for Akatokamanava, but instead he
landed on Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Paikea
arrives in New Zealand and is welcomed by the New Zealand Maori
dancers.
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