Paikea is an ancestor of the Ngati Porou tribe of the East Coast of New Zealand. Paikea was assumed by the ancestor, Kahutia-te-rangi, after humpback whales saved him from his brother Ruatapu, who was trying to drown Paikea.

Paikea literally means tamed whale however in practice it is the name used for humpback whales in Maori.

Paikea is also the name of the main character in The Whale Rider, a book by Witi Ihimaera that was later turned into a movie. The book is partially based on the Paikea of legend and the Paikea in the book is named after the legendary Paikea.