The war between Pareihe of Kahungunu and Te Heuheu of Tūwharetoa rages on for many years. Pareihe, fully armed with muskets, attacks and captures Te Heuheu at his stronghold in heartland Tūwharetoa. Te Heuheu, a seer, forsees his own death in a landslide. He makes peace with Pareihe, cementing it with marriage to a mokopuna.
Set in pre-colonial Aotearoa, Kairākau highlights the lives of three prominent chiefs doing whatever it takes to keep their people safe and maintain their chiefly honour.