Year Character Question
2023 Jan R Discuss the significance of the bull
whale and his herd in The Whale
Rider.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2023 Jan In what ways is the relationship
between Kahu and Koro important in
the novel?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2022 June Examine the relationship between
R Kahu and her uncle, Rawiri.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2022 June Discuss the relationship between
Kahu and Nanny (Nani) Flowers in
The Whale Rider.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2022 Jan R ‘Koro is a dislikeable character in the
novel.’
How far do you agree with this view of
Koro?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2022 Jan ‘Koro Apirana is a successful tribal
leader’.
How far do you agree with this
statement?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2021 Nov In what ways in Kahu significant in the
novel? You must consider the context
of the novel in your answer.
2021 Jun ‘Kahu seemed to say, “Down here?”
and the dolphins made a nodding
motion.’
Explore Kahu’s relationship with the
natural world in the novel.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2020 Nov Explore one character who, in your
opinion, has great power in The
Whale Rider. You must consider the
context of the novel in your answer.
2020 R In what ways is Kahu’s father,
Pourourangi, important in the novel?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2020 Jan ‘Koro Apirana is a cruel and heartless
character in The Whale Rider’. How
far do you agree with this view? You
Thematic Question
‘But this time … I’m really going to
divorce him.’ (Nanny/Nani Flowers).
How is marriage presented in the
novel?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
Discuss the theme of success in The
Whale Rider. You must consider the
context of the novel in your answer.
Discuss the importance of courage in
The Whale Rider. You must consider
the context of the novel in your answer.
In what ways are hopes and fears for
the future significant in the novel? You
must consider the context of the novel
in your answer.
Explore the significance of the names
of people and places in The Whale
Rider. You must consider the context of
the novel in your answer.
Discuss the importance of family in The
Whale Rider. You must consider the
context of the novel in your answer.
Discuss the importance of locations in
The Whale Rider. You must consider
the context of the novel in your answer.
Discuss the importance of fear in The
Whale Rider. You must consider the
context of the novel in your answer.
In what way is change important in the
novel? You must consider the context
of the novel in your answer.
Discuss the significance of Maori
culture and traditions in The Whale
Rider. You must consider the context of
the novel in your answer.
Explore the significance of the legend
of the whale rider in the novel.
You must consider the context of the
 must consider the context of the novel
in your answer.
2020 Jan R Discuss the importance of leadership
in The Whale Rider.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2019 ‘The whales are very important
characters in this novel.’ How far do
you agree with this view? You must
consider the context of the novel in
your answer.
2019 R Explore the relationship between
Kahu and the whales.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
2019 Jan Explore the relationship between Koro
Apirana and Nanny Flowers in this
novel. You must consider the context
of the novel in your answer.
2019 Jan R Explore the relationship between Koro
Apirana and Kahu in the novel. You
must consider the context of the novel
in your answer.
2018 Explore the character of Kahu in this
novel. You must consider the context
of the novel in your answer.
2018 R Explore the character of Rawiri in The
Whale Rider. You must consider the
context of the novel in your answer.
novel in your answer.
In what ways is Nanny (Nani) Flowers
important in the novel?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
Explore the theme of love in The Whale
Rider. You must consider the context of
the novel in your answer.
Discuss the importance of different
kinds of learning in The Whale Rider.
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
Discuss the significance of the natural
world in The Whale Rider. You must
consider the context of the novel in your
answer.
Discuss the significance of travelling in
The Whale Rider. You must consider
the context of the novel in your answer.
‘This novel is not only about the survival
of some whales.’ How important is the
theme of survival in The Whale Rider?
You must consider the context of the
novel in your answer.
‘This novel is all about identity.’ How far
do you agree with this view? You must
refer to the context of the novel in your
answer.