The Whangara people believe their ancestor Paikea was saved from drowning by riding home on the back of a whale. The tribal group has since granted leadership positions to the first-born males, believing them to be descendants of Paikea. But then a young mother dies in childbirth along with her newborn male son. His twin sister survives and the little girl, Pai, is brought up by her grandparents. Learning the skills of chiefdom from her uncle, Pai...

"Where the forest meets the river ... a young Irish woman has grown up amongst soldiers on Te Awanui - The Great River. Too young, and pregnant by the son of a Māori chief, she gives birth to a son, who is kidnapped by his Māori grandfather. Abandoned by her soldier father, Sarah's life becomes a search for her son as she finds herself torn between Doyle, the broken-down soldier, and Wiremu, the son of a Māori warrior. As the conflict escalates...

A "mockumentary" which documents the life of Colin McKenzie, New Zealand "film pioneer and inventor extraordinaire."