The Great New Zealand Road Trip: Whale Rider made this small coastal village famous – locals weren’t ready to be swamped by tourists

After the passing of John Barnett, producer of Whale Rider, Shayne Currie explores Whāngārā, the village celebrated by the film, which still holds fond memories despite a restrictive sign warning against trespassing. This reflects a tension between the community’s pride in the movie and the challenges of managing tourism and access to their private lands.

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