The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary defines "Oceania" as “The islands of the Pacific and adjacent seas,” and in using this definition I will show how and why overseas audiences may see the New Zealand film Whale Rider as representative of Oceania.
For a film to be representative of Oceania it obviously needs to be set there, which Whale Rider obviously is. Although New Zealand is one of the larger islands in the Pacific, it is still classed as the southern most islands of Oceania. However if the film was set in inland New Zealand it would not work as a story (how many whales do you see in somewhere like Hamilton) and nor would overseas audiences see it as representative of Oceania, as most relate Oceania to Pacific islands, and most people's picture of an island setting is somewhere coastal, with or by a beach, and in Oceania's case, a view of the Pacific Ocean.
Throughout the movie there is constant reference given to the place from where Paikea's ancestors came from - Hawaii. Hawaii being the northern most island of Oceania, (as opposed to the southern most islands of New Zealand) gives the movie a true oceanic feel by including another island/country into the narrative rather than New Zealand being the only country mentioned. It also illustrates how we all came from somewhere and points out the migration of people from within the region classed as Oceania.
Lastly this movie represents a part of Oceania to global audiences in that it uses the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maori, as its main characters. In fact there are no Pakeha or New Zealand Europeans in this movie. (the only exception could be Cliff Curtis' German girlfriend who only appears briefly at the end and does not have a speaking role) By showing only indigenous people Whale Rider could be said to be representing a part of the original Oceania before it was colonized by the white man.
