Whale Rider & Maori Culture

Client: Pacific Islanders in Communications

Launch Date: July 2005

URL: (Archived Site)

• Worked with PIC to create site outline and architecture
• Hired designer, worked with her and producers to create site with Maori look and feel
• Met with and interviewed Whale Rider author Witi Ihimaera
• Created an interactive page where visitors can read along as author Witi Ihimaera reads aloud a paragraph of the book in Maori, read a direct translation of that Maori, and compare that to the English translation in the book
• Hired a respected New Zealand professor to write an essay on Maori culture
• Hired Hawaiian Fulbright scholar to write lesson plans for national middle school audience
• Captured and produced all Streaming Real video clips on the site
• Built out site completely