The legend is that Paikea rode on the back of a whale and led his people to New Zealand. Since that time traditon has decreed that the first-born male descendant will become chief of the tribe. Then Pai is born...and she is a girl. She grows up within a close-knit village, which retains the tribes traditional spiritual relationship with the sea and their warrior values. Although loved by all, Pai faces rejection from her grandfather who is broken-hearted that there is no grandson to carry on the line. But Pai is indeed blessed with the spiritual and leadership qualities of her ancestors and, in her own way, struggles in a male-dominated world to prove herself to her grandfather, the chief, and win his respect.

Following the film there will be a session with Alicia McGivern, in which the student is challenged to critically analyse the film.