The New Zealand film Whale Rider has taken more than $5 million at the local box office.
The South Pacific Pictures-produced feature film is in its 11th week of screening, and for most of that time it has been the No 1 picture.
Written and directed by Niki Caro, Whale Rider is based on a novel by New Zealand writer Witi Ihimaera. It tells the story of a young girl's fight to prove her love, her leadership and her destiny, and was filmed at Whangara, on the East Coast.
Whale Rider was the first film to receive money from the Government's new film production fund.
Herald Feature: Whale Rider
Whale of a ride for NZ film
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