Young greenstone carver Potiki knows there is a dark secret surrounding his childhood. Twenty years ago, on The South Island West Coast, two Māori carvers, Tam and Manaaki, went searching for a sacred greenstone boulder. They took Potiki, Manaaki's little son with them. Something terrible happened that day to wreak havoc on all involved. To uncover the truth behind this greenstone trail Potiki must now piece together a series of memories. But will the memories heal or destroy his life?