Motuarohia Island, 1840. A young Maori farm worker, Matiu, falls in love with the farmer’s daughter but she rejects him through a misunderstanding. When she is murdered Matiu is accused and suffers a kangaroo trial. He is freed by members of his tribe and a stand off ensues, between Maori and European, on the island as Matiu rejects the European ways he had formerly embraced.