The Convert

Thomas Munro travels to New Zealand after years in uniform, now a lay preacher aiming to bring a straightforward gospel to the earliest British settlers. He meets Maianui, a formidable Maori chief who sees religion as a tool to advance his own plans. The encounter unsettles Munro and pulls him toward a purpose he never intended. Rangimai stands between two worlds, offering a patient, unsettled eye on the negotiations while weighing what loyalties to a people and a belief truly require. Charlotte, a settler woman, and a captive warrior add sharp human stakes to a fragile balance of power. The drama tests faith, duty and the price of belonging in a land where cultures collide.

Directed by Lee Tamahori, The Convert grows from an original screenplay by Hamish Clayton, Shane Danielsen and Michael Bennett, with a production rooted in regional history and guided by practical concerns of period authenticity.

At its core the film examines how faith can be shaped by power. Munro begins with a preacher's obligation but finds himself drawn into Maianui's political calculations, a shift that tests his conscience and his audience's expectations. Rangimai's perspective adds nuance as she negotiates loyalty to her people while watching outsiders claim the land. Charlotte embodies colonial viewpoints that collide with Maori sovereignty, and the Captive Warrior provides a stark reminder of the costs of conquest. The result is a tense study of belief, allegiance, and the ambiguities of historical encounter.

No major awards nominations are listed for The Convert as of release. The film's ambitions to fuse drama and action around a fraught colonial scenario may attract attention from festivals and regional critics who value historical resilience and performances by Pearce and Te Maioha, even if accolades remain uncertain.

Cultural impact is still taking shape. The film's setting and cast invite conversation about how indigenous figures and colonial histories are represented on screen, with Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne as Rangimai and Antonio Te Maioha as Maianui offering nuanced presence that could influence future projects in the region.