Gordon is drifting alone in the bustling city of Auckland; grieving and lacking motivation, he receives a mysterious phone call from an elderly aunt asking him to come and visit. Reluctantly, but with no better plan, he agrees and travels to Ngawai, a dying little town on the west coast of the North Island. What he discovers there both horrifies and re-energises him: a white outsider coaching soccer in a mainly M ori town. He is immediately thrust into conflict with Tane, the embittered coach of the rugby league club. Entangled in a web of grief, love, sex and anger, his passion is re-ignited and through this, he finds the strength to battle prejudice and corruption, and ultimately, rediscovers hope.