The Mighty Waipa is a coming-of-age story set in a rural village in New Zealand in the 1950's and 60's. Navigating his way through the familial, cultural and social expectations of his time, a boy undertakes his journey of self-discovery while finding solace and support in the river that flows from the mountain past his village. His life is both idyllic and a struggle, anchored as much by the river as by his parents and siblings. Soon after his twelfth birthday his world is shattered when his father is killed and the boy must leave his beloved river. Forced to adjust to a new life he feels ill-equipped to deal with, he lashes out one evening with a calculated yet meaningless act of violence. His calculations however, did not take into account the dramatic effects his actions would have on his mother and siblings. Through learning to come to terms with the consequences of his actions his life is transformed and so are those of his family.