The Convert

In 1830, Thomas Munro, a lay minister from Britain, arrives in New Zealand on a storm-stricken ship. His journey begins amid the chaos between conflicting Māori tribes on the shores of this new land.

During a clash between two Māori tribes, Munro intervenes to save Rangimai, the daughter of Maianui. He trades his horse to Akatarewa, the other tribe's rangatira, ensuring her safety from impending harm.

After the confrontation, Rangimai is brought to a British settlement called Epworth, where Munro is assigned missionary work. He begins his role as her religious tutor, introducing her to Christianity.

As Munro navigates his duties, he witnesses the discrimination faced by Rangimai and Pahirua, a Māori warrior assigned to protect her. Their struggles highlight the tension between the settlers and the indigenous people.

Pahirua is secretly murdered, and Munro learns of the settlers' fabricated cover story regarding his death. He grapples with his conscience but chooses to refrain from reporting the truth to Maianui.

Munro advises Maianui against seeking revenge for Pahirua's murder. Instead, he suggests that Maianui raise the rent the settlers pay as a means to assert tribal authority over their land.

In a bid to equip Maianui's warriors, Munro teaches them a faster method of loading their flintlock muskets. This knowledge is pivotal in preparing them for future conflicts.

While at a gathering in the tribe's wharenui, Munro shares the traumatic experience of his past in the British Army. His reflections on a massacre in a school reveal his quest for redemption.

In an effort to foster peace, Munro visits Akatarewa's land on the British ship that brought him to New Zealand. He seeks to negotiate a reconciliation between the two tribes.

Akatarewa rebuffs Munro's peace efforts, resulting in his warriors capturing the ship with muskets onboard. This act sets the stage for an inevitable and violent clash between the tribes.

Munro ultimately joins Maianui's forces in the decisive battle against Akatarewa's tribe. Utilizing their newly acquired musket skills, Maianui’s warriors achieve victory.

In the aftermath of their triumph, Maianui executes Akatarewa. This brutal action marks not only a personal vendetta but also a turning point for future tribal relations.

To pave the way for lasting peace, Rangimai agrees to marry Akatarewa's son, a pivotal moment that symbolizes potential reconciliation between the tribes.

Four years after the conflict, Munro, now marked with a tā moko, serves as a counselor to the combined Māori tribes. He aids them in negotiations with a British delegation regarding a Customs post.