What Is Pork Pie About?
The premise of Pork Pie in 318 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the sweeping landscapes of New Zealand, an eclectic quartet sets off on an odyssey that feels part road‑movie, part modern folklore. Their journey stitches together remote towns, endless highways and the quirky vibrancy of a country that’s as much a character as any of the travelers. The film’s tone balances heady mischief with a subtle undercurrent of rebellion, inviting viewers to wonder where the line between adventure and anarchy begins.
Luke brings a fearless, almost reckless energy, his skill behind the wheel turning every stretch of road into a daring performance. Jon is a writer whose unfinished manuscript looms like an unfinished map, propelling him toward a destination he both resists and craves. Suzie carries the weight of past promises, a tangled history that shadows the group’s forward motion. Keira, a passionate vegan activist, injects a fierce idealism that colors the journey with purpose beyond pure escapism. Together they form a makeshift family, each driven by personal longing, lingering regrets, and a shared urge to escape the ordinary.
As they traverse the country, their unconventional antics capture the attention of a restless media and a determined police presence that evolves into something of a relentless posse. The chase becomes less about literal capture and more about a symbolic clash with societal expectations, turning everyday encounters into chaotic set‑pieces. Their growing notoriety amplifies the sense that they are both outlaws and unlikely icons, prompting introspection about freedom, responsibility, and the narratives we construct around rebellion.
The film unfolds with a vivid visual palette—sunlit plains, mist‑kissed coasts, and neon‑lit diners—mirroring the characters’ shifting moods. A playful soundtrack and sharp, witty dialogue keep the atmosphere light, even as the stakes subtly rise. Amidst the laughter and the roar of engines, the audience is left with a lingering curiosity: how far will this motley crew press against the borders of convention before the road itself reshapes who they thought they were?
What Happens in Pork Pie?
The complete story of Pork Pie, from the first scene to the last, in 526 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Luke, James Rolleston, is chased by several people in a car dump yard in Kaikohe. He dives into a working yellow Mini Cooper S and tears away, its engine roaring as the pursuit fades into the distance. Meanwhile Jon, Dean O’Gorman, an Auckland-based writer who cannot finish his book, decides to attend a wedding in Wellington that Suzie, Antonia Prebble, his ex-fiancée, is invited to. He borrows his friend’s expensive suit and heads south. In Pōkeno, his car breaks down and catches fire, forcing Jon to continue on foot. He is almost run over by Luke on a rural road, and Luke agrees to give him a lift. In Waikato, the two inadvertently roll away from a petrol station without paying, drawing the attention of the police. Luke’s remarkable driving skills help them slip away, weaving through the countryside toward a drive-through burger joint where Keira, Ashleigh Cummings, an employee weary of rude customers, hops in on a whim. Keira is a vegan activist who wants to reach Wellington to participate in a protest against live export and a pre-event rave.
Jon arrives at the wedding and bitterly confronts Suzie; champagne spills over him as she brushes off the tension with a shrug. He discovers that his laptop containing the book draft has been ruined, and he ends up taking drugs provided by Keira’s friends, falling asleep in the coffin attached to the Mini used for the protest. By morning, police are on their trail again, and Luke’s driving prowess helps them escape by plunging into an open freight train car. Noah, Matt Whelan, calls Jon to reveal that the man at the wedding is Suzie’s gay friend.
On the train, the travelers shed their ordinary clothes and don old outfits, even the titular pork pie hat. Keira and Luke begin a romance and share a night together. Jon decides to head to Suzie’s house in Invercargill to talk things through, while Keira records a video stating that they are animal-rights activists heading to Invercargill. In Southland, Jon buys snacks at a dairy and learns their “gang” has become national news thanks to Keira’s posts. A dairy worker points to a TV report, and Jon bolts. Keira uploads another video from detention claiming the gang is unarmed, which only adds to the mounting pressure.
Luke makes a risky stop at another dairy and is shot by an aggressive police officer, sending him to hospital. Jon continues his journey alone and phones Suzie, who agrees to give him one last chance—he must show up at a cafe in Invercargill at 7 pm. The Southland Mini Club members rally around Jon, helping him shake off most of the pursuing cars, though one officer shoots his tyres, leaving the car to catch fire from friction. Jon finally reaches Invercargill almost too late and spots Suzie walking away from the cafe; he is arrested, but Suzie decides to become his lawyer.
In a mid-credits tease, Suzie and Jon decide to marry again, with Suzie waiting at the altar for hours. Meanwhile, Keira steals Luke—the wheelchair-bound one—from a hospital, and the pair vanish together, slipping away from the roving police presence.
Pork Pie Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Final Invercargill push and arrest” to “Mid-credits: broken plans and a hurried escape”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Final Invercargill push and arrest
Jon calls Suzie, who agrees to give him one last chance: he must show up at a cafe in Invercargill at 7 pm. The Southland Mini Club helps him shake off most of the police cars, though an officer shoots his tyres and the car catches fire. Jon reaches Invercargill almost on time and reunites with Suzie as she walks away from the cafe, but he is arrested; she agrees to become his lawyer.
When:7:00 PM Where:Invercargill
- 2
Kaikohe chase and the Mini escape
Luke is chased by several people in a car dump yard in Kaikohe. He jumps into a working yellow Mini Cooper S and drives away. The escape kicks off a cross-country pursuit that threads through the film.
Where:Kaikohe
- 3
Jon plans to attend Suzie's Wellington wedding
An Auckland-based writer who cannot finish his book decides to attend the wedding in Wellington that Suzie, his ex-fiancée, is invited to. He steals his friend's expensive suit and drives south toward Wellington. This impulsive decision launches his own leg of the journey.
Where:Auckland
- 4
Pōkeno breakdown forces a detour
In Pōkeno, Jon's car breaks down and catches fire, leaving him stranded. He continues his trip on foot, determined to reach his destination. The breakdown forces a shift from car travel to pedestrian progress.
Where:Pōkeno
- 5
A near-miss leads to an unlikely ride
On a rural road, Jon is almost run over by Luke, who then offers him a ride. The near collision marks the start of an unlikely alliance that fuels their road journey. They begin traveling together toward their uncertain goals.
Where:Rural road
- 6
Waikato petrol dash and a close escape
In the Waikato region, they accidentally drive off a petrol station without paying, drawing police attention. Luke's legendary driving skills help them escape the moment and keep moving. The incident heightens the sense of constant chase around them.
Where:Waikato
- 7
Keira joins at the drive-through
They stop at a drive-through burger restaurant where Keira, a vegan activist, joins them. She reveals her goal to reach Wellington for a live-export protest and a pre-event rave. Her presence adds a new dynamic to the trio.
Where:Drive-through burger restaurant
- 8
Wedding confrontation and aftermath at the rave
Jon confronts Suzie at the wedding, and she spills champagne on him. Upset, Jon goes to the rave where his laptop with the book draft is broken. He takes drugs offered by Keira's friends and falls asleep in a coffin attached to the Mini used for the protest.
Where:Wellington
- 9
Morning pursuit and a freight train escape
In the morning, police restart the chase, and Luke and Jon escape by driving into an open freight train car. The escape showcases their reliance on Luke's driving skill. It marks a pivot in their escape tactics as they press on toward Invercargill.
When:morning
- 10
On the train: clothes, hat, and a new spark
On the train, the travelers discover a lot of old clothing, including the titular pork pie hat. Keira and Luke begin a romantic relationship and share a moment of intimacy during the journey. The train becomes a makeshift moving tableau for their evolving dynamics.
Where:Train
Show the other 4 events of Pork Pie Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Invercargill plans and Suzie’s talk
Keira records a video from detention declaring they are animal rights activists heading to Invercargill. Later, Jon travels to Suzie's house in Invercargill to talk to her, setting up their next meeting. The group’s activist stance hardens their public profile.
Where:Invercargill
- 12
Southland dairy encounter and viral tension
In Southland, Jon visits a dairy to buy snacks and discovers their gang is now in national news due to Keira's announcements. A dairy worker approvingly points to the news, while Jon realizes the viral attention complicates their escape. Luke and Jon argue as Keira leaves the car and is captured by the police.
Where:Southland
- 13
Bridge hideout, Roxburgh meet, and a gun
Luke and Jon hide the car under a bridge and spend the night, while Becca discusses Jon's absence on the radio. Luke vows to help them reach Invercargill, but the area is barricaded by police. On the road toward Roxburgh, they meet Bongo, a conspiracy theorist who pulls a gun; he shoots himself in the foot by accident and then claims the gang shot him, triggering police rumors.
Where:Under a bridge near Roxburgh
- 14
Mid-credits: broken plans and a hurried escape
In the mid-credits scene it is revealed that Suzie and Jon decided to marry again, and Suzie left him waiting at the altar for several hours. Keira steals a wheelchair-bound Luke from a hospital, and they run away from the police, continuing their fugitive journey.
When:mid-credits
Who Are the Main Characters in Pork Pie?
6 characters, among them Luke (James Rolleston), Jon (Dean O'Gorman) and Keira (Ashleigh Cummings): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Luke (James Rolleston)
Played by James Rolleston
A fearless, road-savvy driver whose skill behind the wheel keeps him one step ahead of the police. Charismatic and impulsive, he thrives on adrenaline and forms a tentative bond with Keira during the journey, even as his decisions put them all at risk.
- 🚗 Car talent
- 🧭 Quick-thinking
- 🧑🤝🧑 Loyal ally
- J(
Jon (Dean O'Gorman)
Played by Dean O'Gorman
An Auckland-based writer who cannot finish his book and seeks closure by crashing a wedding and stealing a suit. He’s sardonic and emotionally turbulent, often clashing with others but driven by a desire to resolve his past with Suzie.
- 🧠 Writer
- 😠 Frustrated
- 🗺️ Reluctant leader
- K(
Keira (Ashleigh Cummings)
Played by Ashleigh Cummings
A vegan activist who joins the cross-country trip after growing tired of rude customers. She champions causes and seeks to amplify them through viral action, sometimes blurring the line between protest and performance.
- 🌱 Activist
- 🎤 Media-savvy
- 💫 Free-spirited
- S(
Suzie (Antonia Prebble)
Played by Antonia Prebble
Jon’s ex-fiancée who features in the wedding confrontation and later negotiates Jon’s legal path. She’s pragmatic, capable, and becomes a key ally in the pursuit of closure and resolution.
- 💍 Ex-lover
- 🧭 Pragmatic
- 🧑⚖️ Ally
- B(
Becca (Siobhan Marshall)
Played by Siobhan Marshall
A radio personality who comments on Jon’s absence and plays a role in shaping public perception of the events. Becca’s broadcasting frames parts of the journey for audiences.
- 🎙️ Radio
- 🆒 Media influence
- 🗣️ Voice of public
- B(
Bongo (Thomas Sainsbury)
Played by Thomas Sainsbury
A conspiracy-theorist fan who offers help but brings danger, eventually injuring himself and creating additional obstacles as authorities hunt the group.
- 🧠 Conspiracy
- 🧰 Unpredictable ally
- 💥 Risk-taker
Where and When Is Pork Pie Set?
Pork Pie is set in Kaikohe, Wellington, Pōkeno, Waikato, Invercargill, Roxburgh, Southland, New…. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Kaikohe, Wellington, Pōkeno, Waikato, Invercargill, Roxburgh, Southland, New Zealand
The narrative unfolds across a broad stretch of New Zealand, shifting from rural backroads to urban centers as a cross-country chase. Key settings include Kaikohe, a drive into Wellington for a wedding, journeys through Pōkeno and the Waikato region, and final scenes in Invercargill and Roxburgh in Southland. The varied landscapes—farm lanes, highway byways, and small-town streets—mirror the film’s fast-paced, improvised road-trip energy.
- ❄️ Rural setting
- 🗺️ Cross-country travel
- 🚗 Car chase
What Are the Themes of Pork Pie?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Road Trip, Activism and Relationships.
-
01
Road Trip
A spontaneous cross-country journey drives the plot, pushing characters to improvise and form unlikely alliances. The road becomes a corridor for personal reckonings, romantic entanglements, and confrontations with authority. The chase and detours reveal how far people will go when freedom feels within reach.
-
02
Activism
Keira’s vegan activism and media stunts push the group into the national spotlight, blurring lines between protest and performance. The film probes whether viral moments help or hinder a cause, and who benefits when personal stories are broadcast publicly. It raises questions about ethics, spectacle, and the price of visibility.
-
03
Relationships
Romantic and platonic bonds falter and reform under pressure. Luke and Keira’s flirtation deepens into a chance at connection, even as danger and pursuit strain trust. Jon faces heartbreak and personal accountability, while Suzie’s role evolves from ex-lover to ally.
What Kind of Film Is Pork Pie?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A fast-paced, quirky road trip adventure filled with comedic energy, budding romance, and chaotic rebellion as a mismatched trio becomes accidental folk heroes across New Zealand.
- quirky
- escapist
- energetic
- romantic
- rebellious
- unconventional
- journey
- accidental outlaws
- found family
- romantic subplot
Content notes: police shooting.
Quiz
How well do you remember Pork Pie? Test yourself on the story.
