Original subtitles

It was waiting.

Waiting to be filled up.

Waiting for someone to love it.

Waiting for a leader.

And he came on the back of a whale.

A man to lead a new people.

Our ancestor.

Ikea.

But now we were waiting for the firstborn of the new generation.

For the descendant of the whale fighter.

For the boy who would be chief.

Ikea.

Bye.

There was no gladness when I was born.

My twin brother died and took our mother with him.

Everyone was waiting for the firstborn boy to lead us.

But he died.

And I didn't.

Talk about life of the people of Kraft.

Work slowly.

Speak up.

Speak to the world.

Speak to the old.

Speak to the beautiful.

Speak to the deep.

Speak to theriلف gas.

Talk to the hopes.

Where's the boy?

Son.

It's done, it's done.

Come home.

Come home.

Start again.

You mean to pretend it didn't happen?

That's not what I'm saying.

You didn't even look at her, Dad.

She died.

Son.

No, no, no!

No.

All you want is your boy.

It's all right.

It's all you want, isn't it?

You can start again.

I've got a child.

Her name's Spike.

What?

You heard me.

No.

Not that day.

Spike's name.

Spike.

No!

Porourangi.

Porourangi!

Porourangi!

Take her away.

I told you to take her away.

No.

You acknowledge your granddaughter.

She likes you.

You'll have another child.

You've just lost a child and a wife.

Isn't that enough?

You give that boy some time, you hear me?

He'll be back when he's ready.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Keep it, old pucker.

You say the word and I'll get a divorce, bub.

Just say the word.

What do you say to her?

Same old story.

Not good enough for him, is she?

You start that early with me?

You're a man, you can handle it.

Here.

Better get used to it.

This one's gonna need someone to look out for her.

Yeah, alright.

My korou wished in his heart that I'd never been born.

But he changed his mind.

Change that quick.

Must have left them off earlier or something.

You've been smoking.

Says you.

Māori women have got to stop smoking.

We've got to protect our child-bearing properties.

He's coming to the concert.

Right.

Bet she's got her best gears all laid out on the bed.

My dad's coming.

Yeah, better get my flash dress out then.

How long's she staying this time?

Five minutes?

Longer than that.

That's good.

Cos I blinked and missed him last time.

What time's the concert, bub?

7.30.

And don't be late.

Gee, she's bossy, that one.

And it'd have to be smoking in a pretty funny

place to wreck your child-bearing properties.

LAUGHTER SINGING SINGING SINGING SINGING SINGING

SINGING Not good to you, you reckon.

BLEEP SINGING BLEEP

What are they feeding you?

You look different.

Oh, you do too.

Must be growing up.

You're not.

Sorry I was late.

Doesn't matter.

You always stink anyway.

Gotta look my best for you, brother.

Hey bro.

Howard?

Good to see you, man.

Yeah, put on a bit of weight since I saw you last day.

Hey, this is my new lady.

Kia ora.

How many of my sons do you need, girl?

Give us a hand with the food.

Make yourself useful.

You too, pai.

Come on, mate.

Let these important guys have their talk, eh?

Take your time.

They've been waiting for you.

Been a while this time, son.

Been away.

Didn't you get any of my postcards?

Your mother put something on the fridge.

I don't know what it was.

A bridge or something.

Sounds probably.

I've been spending a bit of time in Germany too.

Like you there, do they?

Some of them do.

So you've been busy then?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's been good.

You know, I've got a gallery interested.

Had some good shows.

How about you?

We've been all right.

It's good to see you, Dad.

It was my father's waka.

But after I was born, he didn't want to carve it anymore.

He went away.

Everybody did.

You've come a long way.

I think you can have a sleep in.

Isn't he having you to breakfast?

The septic tank's blocked down at the marae.

Well, can't somebody else do it?

Eat your breakfast.

You're too skinny.

Can't hardly see your bum in those pants.

Thanks, Mum.

Thanks, Mum.

Your timing's spooky, boy.

What was that for?

For the concert last night.

You have more respect next time.

That teacher of yours.

Got herself a husband yet?

Don't think so.

She's still got those things on her teeth.

Haka, at school we gotta do a speech on where we come from and that.

So anyway, you know how we all came on a whale?

That's right.

But where does the whale come from?

From Hawaiki.

Where's that?

It's where we lived before we came here.

Where the ancestors are.

So Paikea came from there.

Aye.

How long ago?

Long time.

But how long?

See that there?

Look at it closely.

What do you see?

Lots of little bits of rope, all twisted together.

That's right.

Weave together the threads of Paikea so that our line remains strong.

Each one of those threads is one of your ancestors.

All joined together and strong.

All the way back to that whale of yours.

Useless bloody rope.

I'll get another one.

It's dangerous.

That's a good one.

Come in.

There's a seat for you over there.

Kia ora.

Kia ora.

Hi.

Kia ora.

Have you met Pai's father?

Porourangi?

This is Miss Parata from the school.

Kia ora.

Kia ora.

Thought she'd appreciate seeing the show.

No problem.

This is some of my work from her last exhibition in Germany.

Start again from the beginning.

She wants to see all of it.

Alright.

Yeah, like I was saying... Oh, sorry.

Who's that, bro?

Anna.

It's a woman I've been seeing.

She's pregnant.

Actually, she's pregnant.

We're expecting a child.

Why didn't you tell me?

Congratulations, bro.

You always get the good-looking ones.

Where is she?

Why didn't you bring her?

Uh, she lives in Germany, Mum.

You know, she wanted to have the child at home.

But you'll bring her back here?

Yeah, of course.

Well, um, bit of a visit, you know, when the baby gets big.

Rawadi.

Take Miss Parata.

We're going to go back to town.

Come with me, Pai.

When were you gonna tell me the day you left?

I've been trying to tell you since I got here.

Look, Dad, it's not forever.

It's just... It's Anna's first child, you know.

Her work's there.

Her family.

Family?

Yeah.

I can't expect her to move to the other side of the world.

Don't you use that girl as an excuse.

You can't wait to get away.

I see it in you.

You never stay because it hurts you to see what's happening to us.

Yeah, it does.

You can still walk away from it.

Leave that walker of yours out there to rot.

I'm not here shoveling shit, but Dad, I'm doing my share.

Look, did you even see my work?

Did you...

Did you even look at it?

You call it work?

It's not work.

It's souvenirs.

Those young men you turn your back on, they've got something to learn from you.

You've got something to offer.

Don't you turn away!

You've got the privileges, but you forget you've also got the obligations.

Look at me, Dad.

For once in your life, go on.

You don't even know who I am.

I know who you're meant to be.

Who you were born to be.

Yeah, right, but I failed you, eh, Dad?

Yeah, because why?

I had a daughter?

Well, I'm probably gonna have another daughter.

And you know what?

I'm not gonna let you treat another child of mine like that.

Then take her with you.

You don't like the job I'm doing, take her.

Go on, take her!

Stop it!

She's no use to me.

Hi.

Leave her, I'll get her.

Hi.

You alright?

Gotta watch that cuddle sometimes.

Big mouth of his gets away on him, eh?

He didn't mean it.

About me?

Well, you know, maybe we should think about it.

Think about what?

You coming to live with me for a while.

What do you think?

Why doesn't he want me?

Oh, Pai, it's not you.

It's not even about you in a way.

Koro, he's just...

He's just looking for something that doesn't exist anymore.

A new leader.

They exist.

Yeah, they do.

Except, I think...

It's become even more than that.

In his head, your Koro, he needs a prophet.

What's that?

Well, somebody who's gonna lead our people out of the darkness and...

Who'll make everything alright again.

Only problem is, you can't just decide who those

people are just because you want them to be, eh?

Like my brother.

Your Koro, he made himself believe so strongly that he was gonna be the one.

But what if he was?

And what if he wasn't?

You know, your Koro, he did the same thing with me.

Is that why he's so hard on you?

Yep, pretty much.

Because I can't be what he wants, eh?

Me neither.

You think about it, okay?

You know, you'd make me really happy if you'd come and stay with me.

Just think about it.

Ready, Pai?

One more go.

You'll be good to that girl.

That's right, you look.

I'm gonna need all the first born boys.

It's time they learnt.

Learned what?

When she was born.

That's when things went wrong for us.

That's where we'll find the answer.

What is it, Pai?

Can we go home now?

Well, why?

What is it?

What's wrong?

I have to go home.

Why?

I just have to.

I know.

Yeah, it's okay.

There is some discussion that we...

Papa!

I'm back.

Not now, Pai.

But I'm back.

I'm back.

Anyway, where does that information come from?

It comes from the books.

I don't know.

You shouldn't be smoking.

Trying to give up, aren't I?

How come you didn't go with your dad?

I did.

For one day, I would have gone.

You did.

And one day, I'm going to go with him.

Where?

Wherever.

Get out of this dump.

Koro's going to be pissed off when he sees you smoking.

No, he won't, because he's not coming.

Is he?

No.

He's getting the school ready.

What school?

For us fellows.

To teach us the old ways and that.

Probably going to be stink.

You can come on the bus if you want.

I'm waiting for Koro.

But he's not coming.

I said I'm waiting.

When you're ready.

When everyone's here, I'll be ready.

They are here.

Those boys have waited half an hour.

You tell her you weren't going to pick her up?

She could have come on the bus.

You pick her up every day for years and she's just supposed to guess.

Good.

Let's go.

Do the welcome bub.

Go on.

What do you think you are doing?

Boy, you're a girl.

Go to the back.

What did I say?

Hey, what did I say?

Then leave.

Go on.

For you boys, this will be a sacred school of learning.

You will be taught in the old ways, in all the qualities of a chief.

You will be tested for your strength, your

courage, your intelligence and your leadership.

Pyke's canoe sank and he called on the ancient ones for strength.

You're going to learn that chant, all of you.

Learn it exactly.

And if you break the chant, you will suffer the utu.

The consequences.

Like what?

Someone dying or something?

Like your dick will drop off.

So hold on to your dicks.

Inari, hold on to your dick.

Now, repeat after me.

Ka u.

Ka u.

Ka u.

Ka u.

Ki utara.

The toya has an instrument of war.

A tool for fighting.

If you want to master it, you've got to show it respect.

Emi, here.

Pick it up.

Be angry.

Anger's part of your battle.

You've got to learn to control it.

Now, take a break.

Get a drink of water.

The rest of you in pairs.

Koro know you're doing that?

I'm not doing anything.

How come you're hiding round here, then?

Koro's cool, eh?

He's teaching us to be warriors, man.

I'm going to be chiefs.

I'm going to smack all those other ones.

You shouldn't have hit Koro like that.

He was alright.

He was real patient, eh?

How come he won't let you do it?

Girls aren't allowed.

You could sit at the back.

As long as you were quiet, I wouldn't mind.

You're not even holding it right.

Your hand should be like this.

And your feet... like this.

Go back to the school, Emi.

I said go.

I'll deal with you later.

I'm sorry, Paka.

You've gone deaf now.

Somebody just apologised to you.

You don't mess around with sacred things!

She was just watching!

She was using a taiaha.

Let the girl talk.

Do it.

You might be the boss out there, but I'm the boss in this kitchen.

I'll do it.

You forgot something.

Hey, it's not too bad up here.

He's got a lot of rules he has to live by.

It's not fair.

I know.

But sometimes you've just got to let him think that he's the boss.

He is the boss.

Not of me.

I'll let him think he is, though.

What's wrong with me, Nanny?

Nothing's wrong with you, you hear me?

You've got the blood of Moriwai in your veins, girl.

Think she'd be proud of you saying things like that?

Anyway, that old Paka's not the only one who knows some tricks.

Eh?

Well, you wouldn't know it now.

But before he got fat and ugly, your Uncle

Rawiri was a bit of a hot shot with the Taiaha.

True.

Won a trophy and everything.

Oh, you should have seen him.

He was beautiful.

What happened?

Oh, I don't know.

He was the second son.

But he knows some things, your Uncle Rawiri.

Don't you worry about that.

Is Uncle here?

Out the back.

Come on.

Hi.

Damn, girl!

What did I tell you about sneaking up on us?

I found this.

Didn't know you played golf.

Not golf.

Taiaha.

Yeah, well, this guy's playing golf.

Yeah, cut the end off the golf stick, swing it around, and push it through there.

Hey, shut up.

That was good.

Yeah, that's why you're sitting here while your father

tells a bunch of snotty-nosed kids how to be chief.

Poor little bastards, eh?

Could you teach me?

Hold up.

This was a long time ago.

So?

Please.

Does Koro know about this?

Well, let's get it on.

Let's get it on then, eh?

Yes.

You mean this?

It's a broom, isn't it?

Anna!

Do it!

When you extend your tongue, you're saying to your enemies, I'm gonna eat you.

Your eyes will roll back.

Your head will be stuck on the end of my stick.

Feel the ihi.

The power.

Make them feel the wehi.

The fear.

I want the hairs on the backs of their necks to stand up.

Take off your shirts.

Kya tere!

When you slap your head, I want you to slap your chests.

I want you to slap them hard.

Scratch them.

Make them bleed.

Good, Hemi.

Good.

It's not just your fathers that are watching you today.

All these ancestors are watching too.

It's my dad.

Come to see your boy.

Hear.

Good.

Hear me, you first.

Ka au ki utara te ika pupu Hanui a te moana ko aho ko te kai...

Girl!

Look at that school!

Over the wall!

I thought you were going to stay for the whole thing?

Senor, better than I.

Come meet my mates.

This is my boy.

Say hello.

Hello.

Better watch out for this one.

You did alright in there, eh?

Alright.

See you later.

Tonight?

Next couple of days, maybe.

Get lost, you.

Was that your dad?

Get lost.

What have you done?

Answer me.

It wasn't her fault.

Go wash your face.

Answer me, Pike.

Do you know what you've done?

No.

You've broken the tapu of this school.

On this marae.

Why?

The one place where our old ways are upheld.

The knowledge that's been passed down from your ancestors.

From my grandfather to me.

To those boys.

Kwafati.

It's broken.

I'm sorry, Pukka.

You're not sorry.

Right from the beginning you knew this wasn't for you.

But you keep coming back.

Do you want me to fail?

No.

You want these boys to fail?

What have you got to say to them?

I'm sorry.

Say it again.

I'm sorry.

Say it till you mean it!

Say it!

I'm sorry.

Want me to put some more hot in?

No.

You can get sick sitting in a cold bath.

What if he fails, Nanny?

Then he fails.

But what will happen to him?

Nothing will happen.

Except me thinking about that divorce.

It's not Koro's fault, Nanny.

What's not his fault?

Sounds like his fault to me.

Not that I'm a girl.

Not you, Amy.

Not you.

You've all done very well.

You've shown me that you've got courage.

That you're strong.

And that you can learn.

But there can only be one.

So there's one final test.

A test of your spirit.

If you have the tooth of a whale...

Well, you must have the whale's jaw to wield it.

One of you will bring that back to me.

Bubble's got a cold and I can't swim.

It's alright mate.

Wait!

Give it to me.

I almost hit it.

Nanny?

Come here.

It's not for long.

You can put your clothes in there.

And there's a lamp if you want to read.

Nobody reckons you're pretty brainy, eh?

Anyway...

It's just for a little while.

Oh-o-oh-o-oh.

Ah-weh.

Ah-weh.

Ah-ah-a-ah-oh.

He was calling to the ancient ones.

Asking them to help him.

But they weren't listening.

So I tried.

And they heard me.

Is this where Paka lost his raipita?

His what?

That thing he wore around his neck.

He threw it overboard.

Crazy old Paka.

Where?

It's just over there.

I'll get it.

It's quiet down deep.

Koro needed quiet.

That's what Nanny said.

He didn't want to talk anymore.

He just wanted to go down and down.

She's been gone quite a while, eh?

Nah, she's sweet.

I know.

For Paka's tea.

And I've found this.

Got this for Dad's tea.

Lovely.

Pop it in the sink.

I got it.

She got this as well.

You gonna tell him?

No.

It's not ready yet.

It's for my school concert.

You're my guest of honour.

So I'll see you there, Paka.

Save this one for Paka.

He might be held up, bub.

No.

He's coming.

There is a train.

At least you know.

Get on board.

Now I do.

There is a train.

I'm sick of all these dead-end days.

Take one, two, take me away.

Driving on the road to town.

The engineer disconnects the train.

Just pack your bags, check in your cross.

There's no one there when we see you alone.

Close

it.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Now, to finish, we have something very special.

One of our students has won not only our own school

speech contest, but the East Coast Area Schools as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Miss Paikea Apirana.

How did

you know about this?

She said she had a surprise... for him.

E ngā rangatira e ngā iwi.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

This speech is a token of my deep love and respect for Koro Apirana, my grandpa.

My name is Paikea Apirana.

And I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to Hawaii,

where our ancient ones are.

The ones that first heard the land crying and sent a man.

His name was also Paikea.

And I'm his most recent descendant.

But I was not the leader my grandfather was expecting.

And by being born, I broke the line back to the ancient ones.

It wasn't anybody's fault.

It just happened.

No idea.

But we can learn and if the knowledge is given

to everyone, then we can have lots of leaders.

And soon everyone will be strong.

Not just the ones that have been chosen.

Because sometimes, even if you're the leader and you need to be strong,

you can get tired.

Like our ancestor Paikea, when he was lost at sea and he couldn't find the land.

And he probably wanted to die.

But he knew the ancient ones were there for him.

So he called out to them to lift him up and give him strength.

This was his chant.

I dedicate it to my grandfather.

Ka u ki utara te ika Pupu hanui a te moana Ko ahau

ko te kai Eke to hora Eke ana ki te tuaranga Nui.

O te ika.

Ka tu te tipua Ka tu te tahito O i irehu Tangaroa meha Is she alright?

She's asleep.

That old man knows she's staying the night?

If he doesn't like it, he can sleep in the road.

Might be time for us to leave, eh dear?

What is it?

You better come have a look.

I called them when they came.

But it wasn't right.

They were dying.

Hey, keep it away from the plough hole, bruh.

Listen, just try not to slip.

Get the plough.

What month?

Aye.

Koro knew what it meant.

It was Paike as well.

This young man was abusing us.

Sent to us.

Because we were in trouble.

Oh

Ana ki te tuaranga Nui o te ika Da een.

Zen?

A명이.

We've got to turn it around, get a tractor

down here, some ropes, and wait for the tide.

If we can move it, the others will follow.

Hit them in.

That's tough.

Half the wind up all night.

They'll do it for you.

It was a test, but for Koro this time.

Leave it.

You've done enough.

He wanted to die.

There wasn't a reason to live anymore.

It's no use.

They're too tired.

We'll try again later.

Let them rest.

Come on, dear.

We'll come back.

Where is she?

Where's my Moko?

Where is she?

It's okay, Paka.

I wasn't scared to die.

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Moko!

Which one?

What do you mean, which one?

He is.

Thank you, dear.

I've been praying to God about it.

If that little one wakes up, I'm going to give up this mix.

She'd like that.

Te rangatira.

The Te Waitulture They didn't care.

What is this?

How's The LINC doing?

Is everything good?

Yes, yes.

My name is Paikea Aperana and I come from a long line

of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Wairau.

I'm not a prophet, but I know that our people will keep going forward,

all together, with all of our strength.