On the East Coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their presence there dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. From then on, Whangara chiefs, always the first born, always male, have been considered paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an eleven-year old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand tribe, believes she is destined to be the new chief. However, her grandfather Koro is bound by traditions to pick a male lead. Pai loves koro more than anyone in the world, but she must fight with him and a thousand years of traditions to fulfill her destiny.
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