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Koro Apirana
Nanny Flowers is the Apirana family’s matriarch, Rawiri’s grandmother, and Koro Apirana’s wife. She is stubborn and gruff but also wise and deeply caring—especially when it comes to Kahu, whom she is willing to defend at any cost. Indeed, Nanny Flowers constantly struggles against the rigid gender roles that limit Maori women’s power to make decisions and participate in public life, and she personally blames Koro Apirana for perpetuating them. Still, she never acts on her daily threats of divorce, and she proves loving and even patient toward Koro Apirana in times of crisis.
Nanny Flowers Quotes in The Whale Rider
The The Whale Rider quotes below are all either spoken by Nanny Flowers or refer to Nanny Flowers. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Spring: Chapter 3
Quotes
“A girl,” Grandfather, Koro Apirana, said, disgusted. “I will have nothing to do with her. She has broken the male line of descent in our tribe.” He shoved the telephone at our grandmother, Nanny Flowers, saying, “Here. It’s your fault. Your female side was too strong.” Then he pulled on his boots and stomped out of the house.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I could understand, however, why the old man was so against the idea. Not only was Kahutia Te Rangi a man’s name, but it was also the name of the ancestor of our village. Koro Apirana felt that naming a girl-child after the founder of our tribe was belittling Kahutia Te Rangi’s prestige. From that time onward, whenever Koro Apirana went past the meetinghouse, he would look up at the figure of Kahutia Te Rangi on the whale and shake his head sorrowfully. Then he would say to Nanny Flowers, “You stepped out of line, dear. You shouldn’t have done it.” To give credit to her, Nanny Flowers did appear penitent.
Summer: Chapter 6
Quotes
“Never mind, girl,” she said to baby Kahu. “Your birth cord is here. No matter where you may go, you will always return. You will never be lost to us.” Then I marveled at her wisdom and Rehua’s in naming the child in our genealogy and the joining of her to our lands.
Autumn: Chapter 12
Quotes
“E nga rangatira,” Kahu began, “e nga iwi”—she looked at Koro Apirana’s empty seat—“tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.” There were stars in her eyes, like sparkling tears. “Distinguished guests, members of the audience, my speech is a speech of love for my grandfather, Koro Apirana.”
Nanny Flowers gave a sob, and tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Winter: Chapter 18
Quotes
“Which of the boys?” he gasped in grief. “Which of the—”
Nanny Flowers was pointing out to sea. Her face was filled with emotion as she cried out to Kahu. The old man understood. He raised his arms as if to claw down the sky upon him.
Epilogue: Chapter 20
Quotes
“You’re right, dear, you’re right.”
“I’m always right, you old paka, and—”
Suddenly Kahu gave a long sigh. Her eyebrows began to knit as if she was thinking of something.
“You two are always arguing,” she breathed.
Get the entire The Whale Rider LitChart as a printable PDF.
Nanny Flowers Quotes in The Whale Rider
The The Whale Rider quotes below are all either spoken by Nanny Flowers or refer to Nanny Flowers. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Spring: Chapter 3
Quotes
“A girl,” Grandfather, Koro Apirana, said, disgusted. “I will have nothing to do with her. She has broken the male line of descent in our tribe.” He shoved the telephone at our grandmother, Nanny Flowers, saying, “Here. It’s your fault. Your female side was too strong.” Then he pulled on his boots and stomped out of the house.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I could understand, however, why the old man was so against the idea. Not only was Kahutia Te Rangi a man’s name, but it was also the name of the ancestor of our village. Koro Apirana felt that naming a girl-child after the founder of our tribe was belittling Kahutia Te Rangi’s prestige. From that time onward, whenever Koro Apirana went past the meetinghouse, he would look up at the figure of Kahutia Te Rangi on the whale and shake his head sorrowfully. Then he would say to Nanny Flowers, “You stepped out of line, dear. You shouldn’t have done it.” To give credit to her, Nanny Flowers did appear penitent.
Summer: Chapter 6
Quotes
“Never mind, girl,” she said to baby Kahu. “Your birth cord is here. No matter where you may go, you will always return. You will never be lost to us.” Then I marveled at her wisdom and Rehua’s in naming the child in our genealogy and the joining of her to our lands.
Autumn: Chapter 12
Quotes
“E nga rangatira,” Kahu began, “e nga iwi”—she looked at Koro Apirana’s empty seat—“tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.” There were stars in her eyes, like sparkling tears. “Distinguished guests, members of the audience, my speech is a speech of love for my grandfather, Koro Apirana.”
Nanny Flowers gave a sob, and tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Winter: Chapter 18
Quotes
“Which of the boys?” he gasped in grief. “Which of the—”
Nanny Flowers was pointing out to sea. Her face was filled with emotion as she cried out to Kahu. The old man understood. He raised his arms as if to claw down the sky upon him.
Epilogue: Chapter 20
Quotes
“You’re right, dear, you’re right.”
“I’m always right, you old paka, and—”
Suddenly Kahu gave a long sigh. Her eyebrows began to knit as if she was thinking of something.
“You two are always arguing,” she breathed.
