his class; however, rather than thank the judge for allowing the class to witness the proceedings of the New Zealand legal system, Simeon gives a moving speech criticizing Mihaere's overly harsh treatment and the ban on the Māori language. Outside the courthouse, Simeon is praised by both Mr McKenzie and Rupeni Poata for his courage. Back at the Mahana family home, Tamihana, already displeased with Simeon for associating with Rupeni, attempts to punish his grandson by forcibly giving him a haircut when Simeon protests Tamihana's decree that the children are no longer allowed to attend the cinema. Simeon's father Joshua rushes to his son's defense and accidentally strikes Tamihana. As punishment, an enraged Tamihana disinherits Joshua, Huria, and their children, exiling them from the farm. Ramona intervenes and, over her husband's protests, bequeaths her house and land to Joshua and his family. Simeon and his family work hard to restore the dilapidated house. Ramona also visits Simeon's family to provide them with moral support. Simeon's aunt Miriam and her lover Pani later join Simeon's family when they are similarly banished. One night while trying to repair a leak in their roof during a storm, Joshua falls to the ground and breaks his leg. Huria tells Simeon to get help from Tamihana; knowing his hard-hearted grandfather will not come, Simeon instead seeks help from Rupeni, who outfits Joshua with a Thomas splint. Joshua's injury forces Simeon and the rest of his family to seek the district's seasonal shearing contract in order to make enough money to survive, which usually goes to Tamihana's crews; this causes further friction between Joshua and Tamihana's respective families, but Joshua's family is eventually given the contract. Some time later, at a local sheep-shearing competition in which Joshua, Simeon and Pani are entered in as contestants, Tamihana suddenly becomes gravely ill, and Ramona privately reveals to Simeon that Tamihana has terminal bowel cancer. Ramona also tells him the truth behind the Mahana-Poata rivalry; that she truly loved Rupeni and that Tamihana did not rescue her as most people believe, but actually forced himself on her, and that she, pregnant with Tamihana's child, was made by the family elders to marry him according to the traditions of the time. That night, on his deathbed, Tamihana reaches an understanding with his grandson, and gives him a letter hidden in a drawer; he passes away soon after. During Tamihana's funeral,