When castaway Jeff Sturgess’ dreams are visited by ancient Maori, his tale of survival becomes a quest to free the spirits from their curse.
Shadowed by a pair of unusual birds (the Amokura of the title) on a fishing trip off the Pacific coast of New Zealand's North Island, Jeff Sturgess and his grumpy elderly father are overtaken by a powerful storm.
They find themselves thrown up on a remote island, out of reach of rescue and with the father injured.
When Jeff's dreams are visited by the spirits of two ancient Maori, the story of their survival becomes a mission to free the Maori of a curse which sees them inhabiting the Amokura during daylight.
Attitudes to race and religion are explored through the experience of first contact and by examination of the two main character's differences.
As completion of repairs to their boat nears, Jeff suffers a severe accident, prompting his father to undertake a do-or-die attempt to reach the mainland alone.
Amokura is the story of the bond between father and son and of generational differences in attitude to race in New Zealand.