In the late 1950s, patriarch Tamihana Mahana, Temuera Morrison heads the Mahana clan, runs their successful sheep-shearing family business in the Gisborne District, and rules the family with an iron fist. En route to the funeral of an important contact, the Mahanas race against long-time rivals the Poatas to the church to secure a contract.
As punishment for snide remarks during the family’s grace, Tamihana assigns grandson Simeon, Jitesh Mahana household chores. While cleaning his grandmother Ramona Nancy Brunning Mahana's study, he finds a photograph of her and Rupeni Poata. Later, when Simeon shows it to his mother Huria Maria Walker and his aunts, she chides him for digging into family history, insisting Ramona cannot stand Rupeni. Simeon later asks Ramona about the photograph, who avoids talking about it but remarks that
> men fight for what they want
The following day, Tamihana tasks Simeon with transporting a slain sheep to a distant shearing station. On the way, he discovers Ramona's abandoned homestead. At the shearing station, Simeon discovers his grandfather sent him needlessly. When he vents his resentment towards his grandfather, his mother reminds him that Tamihana controls their livelihood.
Tamihana later allows Simeon and his other grandchildren to go to the local cinema to see the Western film 3:10 to Yuma. The screening is disrupted when local youth Mihaera Poata, Paddy Church rides his horse into the theatre.
As chaos erupts, Poppy Poata, Yvonne Porter sneaks a kiss with Simeon. The next day, he and his class take a school trip to the local courthouse. One of the defendants is Mihaera Poata, who gets a two year prison sentence for criminal mischief.
As Simeon's teacher Mr. McKenzie asks him to address the judge on behalf of the class, Simeon gives a heartfelt speech criticizing Mihaera's overly harsh punishment and the ban on Māori, rather than simply thanking him for allowing them to witness court proceedings. Outside the courthouse, Simeon's courage is praised by both his teacher and Rupeni Poata.
Back at the Mahanas, displeased with Simeon for interacting with Rupeni, Tamihana attempts to punish him by forcibly cutting his hair and decreeing the children may no longer attend the cinema. Tamihana disinherits Joshua, Huria, and their children, exiling them from the farm. Ramona intervenes and, over her husband’s protests, bequeaths her house and land to them. Simeon and his family work hard to restore the dilapidated house. Ramona also visits to give moral support. Miriam Miranda Wilson and Pani Eds Eramiha later join his family when they are similarly banished.
One night while trying to repair their leaky roof during a storm, Joshua falls off, breaking his leg. Huria sends Simeon to seek Tamihana's help. Knowing his hard-hearted grandfather will not come, Simeon instead goes to Rupeni, who outfits Joshua with a Thomas splint.
Joshua's injury forces Simeon and his family to seek the district's seasonal shearing contract to make enough money to survive, which usually goes to Tamihana's crews. This further increases friction between Joshua's and Tamihana's families, but Joshua's family eventually wins it.
Some time later, at the local sheep-shearing competition in which Joshua, Simeon and Pani enter as contestants, Tamihana suddenly falls, and Ramona privately reveals to Simeon that he has terminal bowel cancer. She also divulges the truth behind the Mahana-Poata rivalry: she truly loved Rupeni but Tamihana did not rescue her, but actually raped her so she, becoming pregnant, was forced by the elders to marry him according to the traditions back then.
That night, on his deathbed, Tamihana reaches an understanding with Simeon, giving him a hidden letter; he passes away soon after. During Tamihana's funeral, the Poata clan, led by Rupeni, arrives unannounced. Simeon prevents a fight from breaking out by revealing the contents of Tamihana's letter. In it he admits to Ramona's rape and also reveals the written agreement between Tamihana and Ramona that she could return to Rupeni following his death. After some debate, Ramona defends her grandson, confessing she never loved Tamihana.
The clans reconcile, and Rupeni praises Simeon for bringing them peace. Rupeni and Ramona leave together, and Simeon begins dating Poppy.
