THE DEAD LANDS tells the story of Hongi (James Rolleston), a Maori chieftain's son who seeks to bring peace and honour to the souls of his loved ones after his tribe are killed through an act of treachery. Hongi's only hope is to pass through the feared and forbidden Dead Lands and forge an uneasy alliance with the mysterious "Warrior" (Lawrence Makoare), a ruthless fighter who has ruled the area for years.