The Wonder of the Whale

Words & Photography
by Jessie Herbert

[A whale washed up on the shores of Waikanae Beach, New Zealand.]

Although it was tragic and sad to see the whale and feel totally helpless, it was so beautiful and so magnificent, I felt deeply in awe of the creature. I wasn't aware of this until recently that whales actually retreat to the shores to die.

...it was extremely incredible and humbling to see the respect and love people showed towards it. Stroking it, and speaking to it.

Māori (the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand) culture has it that when such a majestical creature comes up to die, they honour the whale by using its jaw bone to make bone jewellery. The whole concept being that they acknowledge the beauty of the creature and it's life, and seek to keep the beauty alive by turning it into another beautiful item, being jewellery.

So not only was it incredible to see the whale, it was extremely incredible and humbling to see the respect and love people showed towards it. Stroking it, and speaking to it. So despite seeing it lifeless, it was something of a beautiful tragedy, that I am incredibly lucky and blessed to have witnessed.