In the story “Whale Rider”, Koro refuses to acknowledge Paikea as the inheritor of the tradition and states, “is of no use to me”. Koro is very prejudicial and believes only a male is eligible to inherit the role of chief. After the harsh statement made by her grandfather, she joins her father on his trip to Germany, but later chooses to stay with her grandparents when she hears the call of the whales. Koro establishes a school for adolescent boys to develop the skills to choose one of them to become the tribal leader. Paikea sits down to listen, but Koro says to her, “you’re a girl, go to the back”, the fact that Pai refuses symbolizes that Paikea was not afraid to stand up to her own beliefs. When revoked by her grandfather, Paikea secretly
