Whenua

"When I was younger, I believed all answers could be found in the past. I still believe the past should be our teacher."
— Turaga Whenua, Tales of the Masks

Whenua
Matoran Metru Hordika Turaga
Onu-Matoran
Occupation	Archivist
Kanohi	Ruru
Tools	None
Status	Transformed into a Toa Metru
Pronunciation	wen-NOO-ah

Whenua
Matoran Metru Hordika Turaga
Toa of Earth
Affiliation	Toa Metru
Kanohi	Great Ruru
Tools	Earthshock Drills
Status	Transformed into a Turaga
Pronunciation	wen-NOO-ah
Set	8603 Toa Whenua (instructions)

Whenua
Matoran Metru Hordika Turaga
Toa Hordika of Earth
Affiliation	Toa Hordika
Kanohi	Mutated Ruru
Tools	Thumpers Combat Staff Rhotuka
Status	Transformed back into a Toa Metru
Pronunciation	wen-NOO-ah
Set	8738 Toa Hordika Whenua (instructions)

Whenua
Matoran Metru Hordika Turaga
Turaga of Earth
Kanohi	Noble Ruru
Tools	Drill of Onua
Status	Alive
Location	Spherus Magna
Pronunciation	wen-NOO-ah
Set	8545 Whenua (instructions)

Whenua was a cautious Onu-Matoran Archivist native to Metru Nui who became the Toa Metru of Earth, and briefly the Toa Hordika of Earth. He later became one of the Turaga of Mata Nui along with the other Toa Metru, and was one of the Turaga of Metru Nui before Teridax's reign began.

Biography

Matoran

For most of his life, Whenua worked in the Onu-Metru Archives. Not long after his initial recruitment, Whenua got lost while heading four levels down to check on an Ash Bear exhibit, but ended up two levels lower, in a tunnel where one of Mavrah's Kinloka experiments was condemned after the experiment failed. Whenua thought he would remain lost forever, but eventually found his way out.

4,000 years ago, when the Kanohi Dragon rampaged through the Archives, Whenua stopped Mavrah from following the Rahi to the Great Furnace in order to study it.

Whenua was part of the Underwater Rahi Study with fellow Archivists Onepu and Mavrah. When one of the Rahi attempted to escape by trying to smash the ceiling, he fell in. Mavrah saved him just in time to prevent him from being eaten.

He was in the Archives when Toa Lhikan came and gave him a Toa Stone. He traveled to the Great Temple where met five other Matoran, each with a Toa Stone as well - Vakama, Nokama, Matau, Onewa, and Nuju. They placed the Toa Stones into the Toa Suva and were transformed into the Toa Metru.

Toa Metru

Whenua as a Toa Metru

Seconds after becoming Toa, Vakama had a vision of Metru Nui being saved by the Great Disks. Many of the other Toa, like Onewa, were doubtful, claiming that the Great Disks were just a legend. Nokama stood up for Vakama and the Toa Metru were sent to find the Matoran who knew the locations of the Great Disks.

Whenua was sent to find Tehutti, an Onu-Matoran Archivist, who knew the location of the Onu-Metru Great Disk. First he went to Tehutti's home where he found a note from Vhisola promising to give a Nui-Jaga to Tehutti in exchange for the Great Disk. Reaching the Archives, Damek, the guard, was skeptical Whenua was actual Whenua, but was surprised when Whenua correctly threw the combination locks to enter the building. After passing Archivists struggling with a Gukko, Whenua found a vandalized area of the Archives and a note from Tehutti calling Vhisola's order fake. Going deeper, Whenua found a Nui-Jaga from Ahkmou and a note from the Receiving Department saying Vhisola had never contacted them. Going there, Nuparu told Whenua that Tehutti had been chased into the sub-levels. Whenua descended into the Archives, but found that a trap had been set and fell to the sub-levels. He barely escaped being killed by a Rahkshi of Heat Vision. To get rid of the Rahkshi, he freed a Muaka, slipping past the two suddenly preoccupied combatants to rescue Tehutti.

After the Toa regrouped at the Great Temple and voiced concerns that Ahkmou was a traitor, Whenua and Nuju returned to the Archives with Tehutti and Ehrye. Nuju managed to enrage a Mutant Ussal and a mutant Tarakava, but Whenua's knowledge of the Archives saved them. When the two accidentally walked into the Archives Beast, Nuju saved them by creating a blizzard. The two eventually managed to find the Great Disk in a storage room, escaping just before the Vahki arrived. The Toa and the Matoran went to Ko-Metru afterwards, where Whenua created a distraction for Nuju to draw the Keerakh away from the Knowledge Tower the Disk was on. Nuju managed to exploit the Keerakh's precognitive abilities to lead him to the Great Disk.

He joined the other Toa back at the Temple, and successfully destroyed the Morbuzakh plants that were ruining Metru Nui after avoiding a seed barrage and getting help from a Matoran Nui. Nuparu then came to him for help, and told Whenua there was a leak that could cause a flood in the Archives. Then when the Toa Metru were investigating, a Rahi called Krahka captured and impersonated Whenua. The other Toa found her out and managed to free Whenua. After they defeated Krahka in a titanic battle where Krahka tried to shift into all the Toa at once, the Toa entered the Coliseum, expecting to be hailed as heroes for their deeds. But Makuta Teridax, under the guise of Turaga Dume, told the assembled Matoran that they were impostors, and commanded the Vahki enforcers to arrest them. The Matoran working the Coliseum floor also activated a suction vortex in the center of the arena leading to the Dark Hunter Prison. Whenua, Nuju, and Onewa were sucked into the prison and captured, although Vakama, Nokama, and Matau escaped the Coliseum and went to find Toa Lhikan to help.

While they were being escorted to the Prison of the Dark Hunters, Whenua engineered an escape from the Rorzakh but had been hit with a Staff of Presence and the Rorzakh used Whenua to herd the group into a cell. In the prison, Whenua and the other two Toa met Turaga Lhikan, disguised with decorative headgear. The mysterious Turaga trained the three to use their mask powers with various frustrating tasks, in Whenua's case a test of his ability to find his way around the cell blindfolded. Whenua reluctantly accepted the task for some time, but gave up after crashing into Onewa (who was blindfolded as well) and losing his temper. Onewa calmly ordered him to sit down, and when Whenua refused Onewa was able to activate his mask power and force the Toa of Earth to the ground. Whenua prepared to grab Onewa in retaliation but was stopped by Nuju's own mask power which tore stones from the prison wall to make a barricade between the two Toa. Now understanding what had happened, the three Toa followed Lhikan to the exit which Nuju's mask power had created.

After escaping, the four prisoners encountered a Troller. On the brink of being devoured, Onewa used his mask power, commanding the Rahi to transport them in its mouth, and it carried them across the moat of sand which surrounded the prison. The three Toa and the Turaga emerged, finding a pitch-black tunnel ahead, but Whenua led the way, acknowledging that this path was a preferable alternative to the place they had just escaped, and with this insight his mask power activated, flooding the tunnel with light. Marching forward they encountered a Vahki, but startled by Whenua's brilliantly-lit mask the enforcer revealed itself to be Matau, and two groups rejoined. At Nokama's inquiry the Turaga finally revealed his identity and revealed the duty of the Toa Metru to protect the true heart of Metru Nui, the Matoran. Vakama then found Dume trapped in a strange pod and realized Dume was not who he said he was and was going to put all the Matoran in these spheres.

Urgently, the Toa proceeded to a subterranean storage facility where they found a long-unused Vahki transport. Moving towards it, however, they were attacked by several Lohrak which had taken refuge in the chamber, and fought a losing battle until Vakama commanded them to use their elemental powers to defend themselves. Whenua and Onewa created a gap into which they forced the creatures, and Nuju sealed the gap closed. Fleeing a squad of Vahki that was attempting to force its way into the chamber, Whenua climbed aboard the front of the vehicle and drilled a new exit with his Toa Tools as Matau piloted the escape vehicle.

Quickly they traveled to the Coliseum to stop the Turaga Dume imposter's evil plans. The false Turaga revealed himself to be Makuta Teridax as Vahki transports arrived holding a multitude of Matoran Sphere. Vakama commanded Whenua to find the rest of the captured Matoran, and the Toa of Earth used his mask power to peer through the Coliseum floor to the chamber where the rest of the spheres were kept, and Matau piloted the Toa's transport through the subterranean tunnels to reach the spheres. Six were attached, and Matau threw the Vahki Transport into the Silver Sea, and the Matoran Spheres floated the ship. Eventually the Toa confronted Teridax together, and Turaga Lhikan perished protecting Vakama from a Shadow attack. However, the Toa succeeded in locking Teridax in a cage of solid Protodermis.

After Teridax's defeat and the death of Lhikan, the six Toa Metru took the Vahki transport and six pods into tunnels through the Great Barrier. Inside, they encountered monstrous sea Rahi, which were the Rahi involved in the Underwater Rahi Study that Whenua was part of. Whenua and the other Toa Metru were soon captured by Kralhi, which had allied themselves with the Matoran Mavrah. Draining the Toa of energy, the automatons brought them to their "leader". Mavrah heard their story, but denied them passage, claiming that they wanted only to capture him and his Rahi. Telling the Kralhi to keep watch over them, Mavrah left. Whenua told his fellow Toa about Mavrah's history while they worked on an escape plan. When he was through, enough time had passed for a plan to be formed, and the energy regained to carry it through. Soon, there was a full-scale conflict going on inside the caves inside the Great Barrier, with Kralhi versus Rahi versus Vahki (which had followed the Toa Metru from Metru Nui) versus Toa. Mavrah attempted to gain control of his Rahi, but to no avail. A large wave swept him out to sea, and it was assumed that he was killed in the conflict.

The Toa Metru managed to reach where Mavrah had stored their vessel, named the Lhikan. There they discovered that one of the Matoran pods had been knocked from the transport. This pod would later be revealed to contain Ahkmou, and would be retrieved by Teridax after the Makuta's failure to regain the Vahi. This did make their vessel less buoyant, but not enough that it could not float. The Metru took the Lhikan and escaped from the caves. Soon they emerged off the coast of the island of Mata Nui.

The Toa Metru split up after landing on the island, and each sought out a good place for a new village for their peoples, as well as hiding places for Toa Stones. Whenua investigated the Onu-Wahi area, and was pleased with it. Soon after, the six met up and Onewa revealed that he had found a passage that had a good chance of leading back to Metru Nui.

As the Toa descended, they found one of the Bohrok Nests. Whenua revealed to his fellow Toa that the Bohrok would not wake from their presence, alleviating the concerns of the others. But soon after this, they were attacked by the Rahi Nui. During the course of this battle, Nokama was severely injured by the creature. Only the intervention of the Karzahni plant saved her, and then, still, it was a temporary measure, a bargaining chip, so that the Metru would retrieve a vial of Energized Protodermis for the plant's own use. The six made their way through the tunnel system, fighting many Rahi along the way. They finally reached the safe where a black vial, to be used to retrieve the Energized Protodermis, was stored. The vial was not the only thing inside the safe, however. Also inside was a Kratana. It attached itself to Onewa's mask, giving him visions of the Visorak. Whenua remembered hearing the name before, vaguely, and was slightly disappointed when Vakama destroyed the Kratana, though he also knew the necessity of the action.

After gaining the vial, they finally arrived at the pool of Energized Protodermis. But before they could fill the vial, the substance shaped itself into a physical form and denied the Toa Metru access to the Energized Protodermis, sending multiple mutated Rahi to stop them. The Metru prevailed by destroying all but one of the room's supports, and threatened the entity with bringing the room down upon it. After a moment of thought, it allowed them to retrieve some Energized Protodermis, then attempted to double cross them by turning into a tidal wave, with the intention of destroying them. Onewa brought down the last pillar and the Entity's status as a threat ended. Whenua and the other Toa brought back the Energized Protodermis to the Karzahni, and, after a brief confrontation, it provided Nokama with a root that cured her of the Rahi Nui's poison completely. The Karzahni then exposed itself to the Energized Protodermis. Unfortunately for it, transformation was not its destiny. It was destroyed from within, leaving the Toa to contemplate how it grabbed for power but lost everything.

The Lhikan II was made from transport parts and sections of Karzahni, and the Toa Metru sailed it back to Metru Nui. Something kept bothering Whenua about the city, beyond the fact it wad ruined. He and Matau scouted ahead, and found some Rorzakh, that Whenua defeated by crushing them. They reported to Vakama that the Vahki were speaking normally, and Onewa led the team to the Moto-Hub, where he explained Vahki have fried circuits. Fleeing more Vahki, Whenua found a cocoon with barbs, and then the Toa Metru saw a mutant Lohrak that came from it. Continuing to flee, they saw hundreds of Visorak and Whenua remembered the terrible creatures. Avoiding a Suukorak ambush, Whenua was heartbroken to see the destroyed Archives. Keelerak then paralyzed the Toa with Rhotuka and sent them to the Coliseum where they were tied up.

Toa Hordika

Roodaka, the Visorak viceroy, ordered them to be killed so she could drain them of their Elemental Powers to free Teridax. Before they could hit the ground, however, six mysterious beings, called Rahaga, caught the Toa in mid-air and set them down safely on a street in Ga-Metru. Norik, the leader of the Rahaga, told the Toa that they were now Toa Hordika. Norik told them that their only way to change back was to find a mythical Rahi called Keetongu, which was said to have the power to reverse anything the Visorak had done. Along the way, however, they decided to concentrate on finding scraps for building Airships to transport the Matoran to Mata Nui.

Later on, Vakama summoned the Toa Hordika to Po-Metru to seek out Turaga Dume's sphere, which they had been forced to abandon earlier. After travelling underground and evading Visorak attacks, they managed to find the sphere, only to realize that the sphere had malfunctioned and Dume had escaped. As the Turaga went into hiding, the Hordika returned to the surface.

Whenua discovers his Makoki Stone

Soon after this, the Rahaga told the Toa Hordika of the Avohkii and sent them on a mission to collect the Makoki Stone. After saving Onewa from a group of Visorak in Po-Metru, Whenua went to Onu-Metru, where he found the third stone deep in the Archives, and, after collecting it, accidentally triggered a flood that swept him away. However, he was saved by Nokama. After the Hordika collected all the pieces of the Makoki Stone, they travelled to the Great Temple where they recovered the Avohkii.

While the Hordika scattered in search of airship materials, Bomonga and Whenua travelled to the Archives in search of specialized Kanoka and information on the Visorak. While they were there, Bomonga demonstrated how to camouflage himself in order to trap passing Rahi. Unfortunately, while they were there, they were attacked by a Kahgarak that trapped them in the Zone of Darkness. They managed to escape when the Zivon was summoned but unfortunately, Whenua and Bomonga were tied up in Visorak webbing and nearly became its meal. They were saved by their comrades, however. The Toa and Rahaga fought the Visorak and won a tower which they sealed from the Visorak using their elemental powers. However, then, Vakama revealed demoralizing evidence he had discovered which indicated they were not the destined Toa Metru. They found that Lhikan had originally meant to give the Toa Stones to the Matoran who knew the locations of the Great Disks according to his reading of the stars but changed his mind, unknowingly acting on an idea planted in his mind by Teridax.

Later on, Whenua and Bomonga went searching in the Archives, where, as Bomonga warned, a number of Rahi had escaped from and where they were hiding from the Visorak. Suddenly, Nuju crashed through a wall. Kualus jumped after, warning of a following creature. A Kahgarak soon followed through and launched its Rhotuka but Nuju managed to create a wall of ice which reflected the Rhotuka back and thus sent the Kahgarak to Zone of Darkness. The group continued on through the Archives to a safer place where Kualus explained a bit about the history of the Visorak but was interrupted by the entrance of Visorak before he could finish. Nuju kept the Rahi at bay while Whenua got the door open for them to escape, only to find a Kahgarak in the way.

Whenua and Bomonga search the Archives.

Enraged, Whenua charged up his Rhotuka and began firing wildly as he gave into madness, bringing the ceiling down on the entire group. This rendered them all unconscious, until Onewa and Vakama turned up to help them out. Getting out of the debris, the six along with the other Rahaga, went toward the Coliseum. On the way, Whenua had an argument with Vakama about sending Nokama and Matau out on a scouting mission. During the argument Vakama nearly strangled Whenua and was only stopped by Nuju. Continuing on, they met up with Nokama and Matau who had ended their mission by throwing the Visorak Battle Ram under which they were hiding to escape with one of Matau's tornadoes. The falling ram barely missed the others outside. The group made a plan to attack the Coliseum before the Visorak finished mutating the local Rahi and began on the Matoran.

During this time, Vakama went off alone to reflect on his thoughts before being captured by the Visorak. The remaining five Hordika and the Rahaga traveled to the Great Temple, and while the Rahaga searched for clues to Keetongu's location, the five Toa waited outside, guarding the temple. The next day, the Toa discovered that the Temple was on fire, and rushed in. Nuju discovered Norik trapped under rubble, and Whenua used his Thumpers to free the Rahaga. Norik explained that Vakama had attacked him, kidnapped the other Rahaga, and set the Great Temple on fire, as he had given in to his Hordika side and joined Sidorak and Roodaka. Though upset at the new revelation, they decided that they needed to continue the search for Keetongu, believing he was the only hope for Vakama.

The Hordika and Rahaga found a piece of writing in the Great Temple. It told them to "follow the falling tears to Ko-Metru until they reach the sky." On the way, Onewa and Matau got trapped on a side of a chasm after a rope bridge snapped. Whenua, Nokama, and Nuju held on the other side as Norik was trapped, but Onewa and Matau slingshotted over, saving Norik, but falling in the water. Nokama led Nuju and Whenua into the sea, and they got in an Underwater Chute. They followed a certain river into Ko-Metru until it froze, forming Keetongu's Lair where they found mythical Rahi along with a surprise: Keetongu agreed to assist the Toa in rescuing Vakama, because the Toa cared so much about their friend. They arrived at the Coliseum, battled the Visorak, and because of Matau's reasoning with the fallen Toa, regained Vakama on their side. They then seemingly defeated Roodaka by unleashing their Elemental Rhotuka on her, unwittingly releasing Teridax from the Protodermis cage. Afterwards, Keetongu cured all the Toa Metru of the Hordika Venom and they then resumed their great rescue of the sleeping Matoran. When they were on the way to the island of Mata Nui, Onewa saw that Teridax's prison was empty. Vakama said that Teridax would follow them to the new island, and he was correct. They later sacrificed their Toa Powers to wake up the Matoran, and became Turaga, just as Toa Lhikan did for them.

Turaga

Turaga Whenua in Mask of Light

When Whenua became a Turaga, he carried the Drill of Onua. He chose the underground caverns of Onu-Wahi for the location of Onu-Koro, aiding in its construction, and later in its defense, using his remaining powers. He chose Onepu as his right hand Matoran, while his left hand Matoran is Taipu. He was once rescued from a Vatuka by Takua in the Onu-Koro mines, and awarded the Matoran a Volo Lutu Launcher. He met with the Turaga at the Kini-Nui, and returned Whenua's stolen drill.

When Onua arrived, Whenua met with him after Onepu found him. Whenua was swamped by a number of complaints from his village for a long time, ranging from poor mining conditions to a lava flow blocking the Lightstone mine. After Takua had helped with a number of the problems, Whenua was finally able to help him and answer his questions.

When Takua came looking for a Matoran to accompany him to Kini-Nui, Whenua told him to take Taipu, who had enjoyed his experience in Le-Wahi. Takua later visited Whenua who had summoned him, while the village was under lockdown to ask about the mysterious rock layer, and Whenua told him they suspected it to be another entrance to Mangaia.

After the Bohrok-Kal attacked Mata Nui, Whenua traveled with Onua in search for his Kanohi Nuva. As the duo traversed through the deep mines, they encountered a swarm of Kofo-Jaga. Onua wished to fight the creatures to get past them, although Whenua insisted on finding an alternative route. Angered, Onua agreed; later, the two had a talk about what true power was. Later, the two find the Kanohi Nuva, although it is guarded by two Manas. As they try to contemplate a way out, Onua begins drilling holes through the wall, allowing lava to pour in, much to Whenua's shock. However, Whenua realizes that Onua was trying to attract the Kofo-Jaga with the heat. The scorpions and crabs fight, not noticing the Toa and Turaga take the mask and depart.

Later on, after the discovery of the Mask of Light, Teridax unleashed his Rahkshi on the island. Whenua took Onua and Pohatu to the outskirts of Po-Wahi into a cave, revealing thousands of Kraata. He informed the Toa Nuva that it was the Kraata that poisoned the Kanohi Teridax used to enslave the Rahi. He continued, saying that it was for this reason that he and the other Turaga captured as many of them as they could, locking them up in suspended animation. Unfortunately, the Rahkshi arrived, causing a cave-in and releasing all the Kraata from their prisons. The three of them managed to escape from the cave, sealing the rest of the Kraata in. A Shadow Kraata also managed to escape, but Pohatu captured it. Later when the Rahkshi attacked Onu-Koro, he was forced to evacuate his village.

Return to Metru Nui

When Whenua and the other Turaga traveled back to Metru Nui, they learned that Mata Nui was dying. They then gathered the Toa Nuva, and sent them to Voya Nui, in search of the Kanohi Ignika, a search that they appeared to not have returned from. When the Toa Nuva began their search for the Staff of Artakha in the Archives, Onua recalled Whenua saying at an unspecified time that it was stolen by the Dark Hunters some time before.

When the Great Spirit was revived from death, Whenua celebrated along with the rest of the inhabitants of Metru Nui. After the Toa Hagah's arrival on Metru Nui, Whenua and the other Turaga had to be persuaded by them and the Toa Mahri to allow them to carry out an idea for the Toa Hagah to journey under the Coliseum, in search of Teridax. Later, when the Order of Mata Nui began the fortification of Metru Nui for a battle with the Brotherhood of Makuta, the Turaga were confined in the Coliseum after they refused to cooperate.

After the victorious battle, the inhabitants of Metru Nui celebrated the Great Spirit's awakening.

Teridax's Reign

However, Teridax interrupted the celebration to announce his rule over the universe. Then Whenua and the other Turaga fled into the Archives, bringing the Toa Nuva, Takanuva and as many Matoran as they could find with them. Later, the Turaga were able to find Krahka, who told them of tunnels leading to the shoreline. However, after Krahka departed to join the rebellion, Whenua and the other Turaga of Metru Nui were captured by Teridax's Rahkshi and were imprisoned in the Coliseum, with Ahkmou taking their place as the new "Turaga."

After Teridax was killed and the Mata Nui Robot destroyed, Whenua and the surviving residents of Metru Nui migrated to the reformed Spherus Magna.

Abilities and Traits

Wise and sage, Whenua has great faith in the past; he was always trying to learn from the past and make sure not to make the same mistakes in the future. Whenua is extremely knowledgeable about facts and history, skills gained from his career as an Archivist.

Upon transforming into a Toa Metru, Whenua unlocked his full Elemental powers over Earth, as well as gaining other abilities possessed by Toa.

When turned into Toa Hordika, Whenua's elemental abilities were weakened, and his Kanohi was fused to his face, removing his access to it. He also gained a bestial side, which he struggled to keep in check. Of all the Toa Metru, Whenua felt the strongest about conserving the escaped Rahi.

As a Turaga, he retains his elemental powers, but to a lesser extent, as well as having a diminished form.

Mask and Tools

Whenua wore a Great Kanohi Ruru, Mask of Night Vision, as a Matoran and Toa Metru. It later transformed into a Noble Ruru when he became a Turaga. Whenua was also given a Noble Kanohi Huna, Matatu, Mahiki, Rau, and Komau from Onua after he collected them on Mata Nui.

As a Toa Metru, Whenua wielded a pair of Earthshock Drills. They could help him dig, and when spun at high speeds, they could cause a loud sonic vibration. When he became a Toa Hordika, his drills mutated into a pair of Thumpers, which could summon Rahi or charge his Earth Rhotuka. He also acquired a Rhotuka Launcher through which he fired them. As a Toa Hordika, Whenua also used a Combat Staff. Whenua's Thumpers were restored to their original form when he was transformed back into a Toa Metru, but then were transformed into the Drill of Onua when he became a Turaga.

Set Information

Whenua Sets
8545 Whenua	8603 Toa Whenua	8738 Toa Hordika Whenua

Whenua Hordika in minifig form

Whenua was first released as a set in 2001 as a Turaga, one of that year's small sets. 8545 Whenua contained twenty-eight pieces and could raise or lower its staff when one pushed a lever on its back. By combining the pieces of all six Turaga sets, one could create the Turaga Nui.

He was later released as the forty-nine piece Toa Metru canister set, 8603 Toa Whenua, in early 2004 in North America and mid-2004 for European buyers. Parts from this set could be combined with the pieces of 8602 Toa Nokama and 8603 Toa Whenua to build a Kraawa, or with the parts of all five of the other Toa Metru to build Krahka. By spinning a gear on Toa Whenua's back one could make the set swing its arms alternately, and when the set lay prone one could connect its hands together via an included forty-five degree angle connector, thus combining its Earthshock Drills into one larger drill.

In 2005, 8738 Toa Hordika Whenua was released in winter in North America and during the summer in Europe. This set contained forty-eight pieces including two silver Rhotuka spinners and a Rhotuka launcher. A gear on his shoulder could be used to bend the set's elbow. Parts from the set could be combined with parts from 8736 Toa Hordika Vakama and 8740 Toa Hordika Matau to make a Protocairn, or with only Vakama's parts to make a Cable Crawler.

Whenua appeared as a Toa Hordika minifigure in four playsets in 2005, 8757 Visorak Battle Ram, 8758 Tower of Toa, 8759 Battle of Metru Nui and 8769 Visorak's Gate. He carried a Combat Staff instead of his Thumpers.

A battery-operated Whenua-themed Colgate toothbrush was released in 2004, which came with the Great Kanohi Ruru and a toothbrush cover which could hold the mask piece, colored to match Toa Whenua's eyestalk.

A large statue of Whenua in his Toa Metru form stands at LEGOLAND's Hero Factory ride. Unlike many large models of BIONICLE characters, it is not made of LEGO System Bricks.

Quotes

"No, that’s Onewa who swings around buildings. I’m Whenua, who falls off them!"
— Toa Metru Whenua to Nuju, Trial by Fire

"Since when are Matoran just zapped into Toa?"
— Toa Metru Whenua, Legends of Metru Nui

"I have been hanging here trying to remember if a Toa ever met his end by being baked while stuck to a ceiling. I can't think of one. As an archivist, I am excited about discovering a first. As a Toa Metru, I am not looking forward to being remembered in the Chronicles for this."
— Toa Metru Whenua to Nuju, The Darkness Below

"It serves no purpose to be false, for the earth cannot be deceived."
— Turaga Whenua to Toa Nuva Onua, Tale of the Toa

"To be a Toa is to defeat all those who oppose you? Is this what you believe a Toa to be? A mighty arm to strike down your enemies? Your power is nothing. A Toa's true strength lies here," Whenua said, pointing to his head. Then he placed a hand over his heartlight, saying, "And here. Your Toa Power can move the dirt ... Your mind and heart can move mountains."
— Narrator, Tales of the Masks

Trivia

• Whenua (pronounced: fen-oo-ah) means "land" or "ground" in Māori.
• Whenua was voiced by Paul Dobson in Legends of Metru Nui and Web of Shadows.
• Like all of the other Toa Hordika sets, the hands and weapons are assembled differently between the promotional material and the instructions themselves. The instructions show the weapons being held in the top axel holes of the hands, yet the container image, that carries over to the instruction cover, shows the weapons in one of the side axel holes. The latter configuration carried over into the Web of Shadows film and all of the comic books.

Appearances

Books	Comics	Online	Multimedia
Novels BIONICLE Chronicles 1: Tale of the Toa BIONICLE Chronicles 2: Beware the Bohrok BIONICLE Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks BIONICLE: Mask of Light BIONICLE Adventures 1: Mystery of Metru Nui BIONICLE Adventures 2: Trial by Fire BIONICLE Adventures 3: The Darkness Below BIONICLE Adventures 4: Legends of Metru Nui BIONICLE Adventures 5: Voyage of Fear BIONICLE Adventures 6: Maze of Shadows BIONICLE Adventures 7: Web of the Visorak BIONICLE Adventures 8: Challenge of the Hordika BIONICLE Adventures 9: Web of Shadows BIONICLE Adventures 10: Time Trap BIONICLE Legends 4: Legacy of Evil BIONICLE Legends 7: Prisoners of the Pit (M) BIONICLE Legends 10: Swamp of Secrets (M) Guides The Official Guide to BIONICLE 2003 Style Guide BIONICLE: Metru Nui - City of Legends BIONICLE: Rahi Beasts (M) BIONICLE: Encyclopedia BIONICLE: Encyclopedia Updated BIONICLE: Makuta's Guide to the Universe Activity BIONICLE: Collector's Sticker Book	BIONICLE BIONICLE 2: Deep into Darkness (FA) BIONICLE 13: Rise of the Rahkshi! BIONICLE 14: At Last -- Takanuva! BIONICLE 15: Secrets and Shadows BIONICLE 16: Toa Metru! BIONICLE 17: Disks of Danger BIONICLE 18: Seeds of Doom BIONICLE 19: Enemies of Metru Nui BIONICLE 20: Struggle in the Sky BIONICLE 21: Dreams of Darkness (V) BIONICLE 22: Monsters in the Dark Comic 22.5 BIONICLE 23: Vengeance of the Visorak BIONICLE 24: Shadow Play BIONICLE 25: Birth of the Rahaga BIONICLE 26: Hanging by a Thread BIONICLE 27: Fractures Promotional BIONICLE: The Beginning Lunchables 1	Chronicle Wall of History (M) Story Serials Toa Nuva Blog (M) Animations Mata Nui Online Animations Toa Metru Promo Animations Toa Hordika and The Mask of Light	Movies BIONICLE: Mask of Light BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui Metru Nui Explorer BIONICLE 3: Web of Shadows Metru Nui Explorer Commercials Toa Hordika Commercial (NC) Visorak Commercial (NC) 2005 Playset Commercial (NC) Online Games Mata Nui Online Game Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle BIONICLE: Colgate (NC) Rhotuka Spinner Challenge (NC) Video Games BIONICLE: Quest for the Toa BIONICLE: The Legend of Mata Nui (NC) BIONICLE: Matoran Adventures (NC) BIONICLE: The Game (NC) BIONICLE: Maze of Shadows (NC) BIONICLE Heroes (NC) (M) CDs Toa Mata Nestlé Promo CD Toa Nuva Promo CD Whenua's Toa Metru Mini Promo CD Card Games BIONICLE: Quest for the Masks (NC) Board Games BIONICLE: Quest for Makuta (NC) BIONICLE: Challenge of the Toa Metru! (NC) BIONICLE: Quest for Keetongu (NC)

See also

• Gallery:Whenua

External links

• Whenua's My Lego Network Page