Tinirau and the whale

This is a dramatic tale of treachery and revenge involving the chief Tinirau, his pet whale, Tutunui, and Tinirau’s sinister guest, Kae. The story reveals the complex relationship that Māori have with whales. Many versions are known throughout the Pacific.

Pātaka – a symbol of plenty

A pātaka is a customary food storage house for Māori. Customarily they were built close to a leading chief’s dwelling in a village. The pātaka houses food and treasures and was a great source of pride to the people who used it. The pātaka was often intricately carved to represent many different aspects of an iwi’s (tribe’s) environment and their spirituality.

People retain knowledge from many different sources. In the past, these sources have included storytelling, dance, carvings, art, and song.

^{Pātaka, by Major General Horatio Robley; 1864; New Zealand. Acquisition history unknown. Te Papa (1992-0035-838)}

Whales equal abundance

In earlier times, a stranded whale would supply a tribe with an enormous amount of food and other resources. A pātaka stocked with whale meat could provide a tribe with protein for months.

Friends, guardians, food

The maihi (bargeboards) of many pātaka have pakake whale-like patterns. These patterns probably have their origins in the story of the chief Tinirau and his pet whale Tutunui. Tinirau offers Tutunui as transport for a guest, Kae, who in turn kills and eats the whale. The story illustrates aspects of the complex relationship Māori had with whales – as friends, guardians, and food.

Chiefly virtues

A chief should ensure his people have food. A great chief would also show his bounty to guests who came in peace. An ornately carved pātaka symbolised this physical wealth as well as the leader’s generosity of spirit.

A carved pātaka also showcases the chief’s and by association the tribe’s artistry, enhancing the mana (prestige) of the whole group. The structure symbolises wealth, knowledge, and prestige.

The shape of whales

Two carving patterns peculiar to pātaka are ‘pakake’ and ‘taratara a Kae’. Pakake consists of a large, scroll-like shape representing a whale’s head. Behind this is the familiar shape of the whale’s body tapering toward the tail. In the example below, manaia (supernatural sea beings) appear to be hauling the whale up the gable.

^{‘Te Puawai o Te Arawa’ pataka (storehouse), Auckland Museum; 1880-1950; New Zealand. Te Papa (O.039815)}

In the next activity, let’s dive into the Te Papa collections to see the ways precious whale bone and teeth were (and are) used by Māori and other cultures in the Pacific