Divergent paths, the pursuit of cultural recognition in Aotearoa New Zealand

Reflections on the ecosystem services of whales and valuing their contribution to human well-being

“…In this culture, whales have often been compared to chiefs due to their large-scale capacity to provide sustenance to communities, with stranded whales considered to be gifts from the great god of Tangaroa. Meanwhile, legends about their capacity to aid navigation during ocean voyages from Hawaiki to New Zealand have led many Maori peoples to view whales as guardians (Levine 2016). Popular spiritual narratives and associations concerning whales have also been to the fore in Inuit communities, mostly unfolding from the perception of whales as beings of special reverence.…”