Tinā Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Tinā (2025). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Mareta Percival, Beulah Koale, is a Samoan New Zealander and a devoted primary school teacher in Aranui, a low‑income Christchurch suburb. On the day of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Mareta’s daughter auditions at the CTV Building and is killed, leaving Mareta grief‑stricken and struggling to hold onto her Roman Catholic faith.
In 2014, to keep her unemployment benefits, her nephew and social worker Sio, Dalip Sondhi, convinces Mareta to apply for a substitute teaching post at St Francis School, a largely Pākehā private school with conservative expectations. Despite reservations from the school board, the retiring headmaster Alan Hubbard, Dalip Sondhi, hires her.
One day, Mareta walks in on Sophie, Antonia Robinson, being confronted by deputy principal Peter Wadsworth to specialize in an instrument, and Mareta covers for her by saying they had discussed vocal scholarships. With no choir to begin with, Mareta convinces the headmaster to start one, appointing herself choirmaster, much to the dismay of Peter. She also enlists the help of St Francis alumni and accomplished chorister Helen, Tania Nolan.
The choir attracts several students beyond Sophie, including Anthony Bull, Zac O’Meagher, Mei-Ling, Talia Pua, and Luke, Caleb Nazzer. Despite their privileged backgrounds, these students bring personal traumas and insecurities that the group begins to share and navigate together, learning to work as a team. Seeing potential in Sophie, Mareta trains her as lead chorister.
With encouragement from a local priest, the St Francis choir conducts their first performance at Mareta’s Samoan church. Mareta’s former teaching colleague, Rona, confronts her, viewing St Francis kids as privileged and elite; Mareta collapses and is hospitalized, revealing a cancer diagnosis she had kept hidden.
Mareta introduces her students to the upcoming national Big Sing competition, hoping they will compete. However, due to a troubled home life, Sophie leaves the choir after refusing to don a lavalava because of a disfiguring arm injury, forcing Mei-Ling to take on a leadership role. Tensions rise when Anthony and Mei-Ling are embroiled in a fight with St Francis’ elite rugby team, leading Anthony to leave the choir.
Despite these obstacles and Mareta’s worsening cancer, the St Francis choir presses on and defies expectations, qualifying for the semi‑final and then the final of the Big Sing. Yet Mareta’s teaching contract is terminated, and she is hospitalised as her condition worsens. The choristers remain determined to perform, with Sophie and Anthony returning to the group. To fill the gap left by Mareta, Sophie enlists her mother Caroline, a board member, and Rona’s support. On the night of the final, Mareta passes away, but Sophie leads the St Francis choir, wearing a lavalava, in a moving performance of a traditional Samoan song.
Tinā Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Tinā (2025) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Earthquake tragedy and loss
During the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Mareta's daughter auditions at the CTV Building and is killed in the collapse. Mareta is grief-stricken and loses her sense of purpose in life. She clings to her Roman Catholic faith as a source of comfort amid the disaster.
Grief and faith aftermath
The tragedy leaves Mareta adrift in the aftermath, struggling to find meaning beyond her loss. Her faith provides a tenuous anchor as she battles to keep going in a city convulsed by disaster. The community around her is also rebuilding in the wake of the quake.
Sio's plan to get Mareta a job
In 2014, Mareta's nephew Sio convinces her to apply for a job as a substitute teacher at St Francis School to maintain unemployment benefits. Despite reservations from the school board, the retiring headmaster Alan Hubbard hires her to fill in. Mareta begins a new chapter in a largely privileged private school environment.
Covering for Sophie
Mareta covers for Sophie by pretending they had discussed vocal scholarships after witnessing Sophie being confronted by deputy principal Peter Wadsworth. The deception buys Sophie time but also exposes Mareta to the school's politics. The moment marks a turning point in Mareta's relationship with the administration.
Starting the choir
Seeing a choir missing from the school, Mareta persuades Alan to allow her to start one, taking on the role of choirmaster. Peter Wadsworth resents the idea and actively undermines the effort. The choir becomes a platform for Mareta to connect with the students.
Recruiting and teamwork
The choir draws in students such as Sophie, Anthony, Mei-Ling and Luke, despite their comfortable upbringings and personal traumas. Mareta trains Sophie to be lead chorister and encourages the group to work as a team. The project gives the students a sense of belonging and purpose.
First performance
The choir's first performance is held at Mareta's Samoan church with support from Father McAfee. After the show, Rona confronts Mareta about her privileged students, and Mareta collapses. She is rushed to the hospital, where doctors reveal she has cancer.
Hospitalization and diagnosis
Mareta enters hospital care as her cancer is diagnosed and becomes a central threat to her ability to continue teaching. The news adds urgency to her mission with the choir and deepens the stakes for her students.
Sophie leaves the choir
The plan to enter the Big Sing contest motivates Mareta and her students, but Sophie leaves the choir after refusing to wear a lavalava because of a disfiguring arm injury and family dynamics. The remaining members push forward despite the setback.
Mei-Ling and rugby trouble
Anthony and Mei-Ling are embroiled in a fight with St Francis' elite rugby team, and Anthony ultimately leaves the choir. The incident tests the group's resolve and cohesion, complicating Mareta's goals.
Threat to end the choir and semi-final
Peter uses the rugby fight as a reason to pressure the school board to end the choir program, but the students' support keeps the project alive and the choir advances to the semi-final of the Big Sing. The group steels themselves for a challenging journey ahead.
Contract termination
Despite the progress, Mareta's teaching contract is terminated as the choir continues to push forward. The students, however, remain committed to the project and to Mareta's vision.
Final preparations
With Mareta hospitalized, Sophie returns to help the choristers prepare for the final, enlisting support from her mother and Rona. The group works hard to honor Mareta's legacy and keep the dream alive.
Final night and Mareta's death
On the night of the final, Mareta succumbs to her cancer, but Sophie steps forward to lead the choir, wearing a lavalava, and they perform a traditional Samoan song for the Big Sing final. The moment caps Mareta's journey with a poignant, unifying performance.
Tinā Characters
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Mareta Percival (Anapela Polataivao)
A dedicated teacher who mentors a diverse chorus at St Francis while grappling with grief from her daughter's death and a hidden cancer diagnosis. Her resilience fuels the choir's rise from obscurity to a competitive finale. She uses faith and cultural identity to guide her students toward unity and self-belief.
Sio
Mareta's nephew and social worker who pushes her to rejoin the workforce for benefits. He becomes a practical ally, orchestrating her entry into St Francis and supporting the creation of the choir. His decisions reflect family loyalty and a desire to provide stability.
Alan Hubbard (Dalip Sondhi)
The retiring headmaster who believes in Mareta's potential and advocates for giving the choir a chance. His pragmatic optimism counters resistance from the board and Peter. He embodies steady leadership in a changing school environment.
Helen (Tania Nolan)
A St Francis alumna and respected chorister who returns to help mentor the students. She brings experience and artistry to the choir, bridging generations. Her involvement validates the choir's legitimacy within the school's culture.
Sophie (Antonia Robinson)
A talented student and lead chorister whose personal struggles, including a disfiguring arm injury, shape her willingness to remain in the choir. Her arc centers on resilience and growth under Mareta's guidance. She embodies the tension between privilege and vulnerability within the student body.
Peter Wadsworth (Jamie Irvine)
The deputy principal who undermines Mareta and uses the rugby team's conflict to push for ending the choir. He represents school authority resisting unconventional approaches and cultural inclusion. His actions create friction that tests the students' commitment.
Father McAfee (Matthew Chamberlain)
A Catholic priest who offers spiritual support and encourages the choir, reinforcing the moral framework around Mareta's mission. He provides emotional and communal grounding for the school and students. His stance underscores the role of faith in resilience.
Rona (Nicole Whippy)
Mareta's former teaching colleague who confronts the choir program with skepticism, linking it to privilege. Her perspective challenges Mareta and prompts reflection on inclusivity and the impact on the broader community. Her confrontation highlights tensions within the school ecosystem.
Caroline (Alison Bruce)
Sophie’s mother and a St Francis board member who becomes an ally to preserve opportunities for the choir when the school wavers. She embodies the complexities of parental involvement within a private school setting. Her support helps navigate institutional pressures.
Anthony Bull (Zac O'Meagher)
A privileged student and rugby player who represents the elite demographic within St Francis. His participation and conflicts with Mei‑Ling reveal class tensions and the challenges of reconciling different backgrounds through music. He evolves through the choir experience.
Mei-ling (Talia Pua)
A bright student who rises to leadership when Sophie leaves the choir, showing resilience and a collaborative spirit. She helps keep the group cohesive and demonstrates how individual growth fuels team success. Her role underscores cultural and personal background within the ensemble.
Luke (Caleb Nazzer)
A choir member who supports the ensemble and faces personal turmoil that mirrors the wider pressures on St Francis students. He contributes to the group's dynamics and growth. His presence adds to the sense of combined effort in the final performance.
Lanita Percival (Tiare Lily Savea)
A St Francis student whose background and experiences enrich the choir’s diversity. She adds depth to the ensemble and helps convey Samoan identity through the group's performances. Her involvement highlights cultural representation in the private school setting.
St Francis Student (Korilee Duncan)
A pupil from the St Francis School who participates in the choir, contributing to the blend of talent and pressure within the group. His or her perspective reflects a mix of privilege and challenge within the private school environment.
St Francis Student (Quillan Denton)
Another choir member from St Francis who navigates expectations and personal growth as the group pushes toward the final competition. His or her involvement reinforces the collaborative nature of the ensemble.
Amelia Stace (St Francis student, Choralation singer)
A member of the St Francis choir and choral singer who contributes to the ensemble with her voice and presence. She embodies the younger cohort's aspirations within the private school's choral program.
Tinā Settings
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Time period
2011-2014
The narrative begins with the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, showing immediate loss and upheaval. Afterward, it follows Mareta years later as she navigates unemployment, a cancer diagnosis, and a new teaching role in 2014. The timeline culminates with the Big Sing competition, highlighting resilience, community, and sacrifice.
Location
Aranui, Christchurch, New Zealand; St Francis School; Mareta's Samoan church
The story unfolds in the low‑income suburb of Aranui in Christchurch, New Zealand, a tight‑knit, working‑class community. It also centers on St Francis School, a private institution whose rigid culture creates tension with Mareta's more inclusive approach. Mareta's Samoan church provides a cultural anchor and a venue for the choir's first big performance. The locales reflect the social fabric and aftershocks of the 2011 earthquake that frame the characters' lives.
Tinā Themes
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Grief
Mareta's daughter's death during the earthquake triggers a struggle with purpose and faith. The film tracks how grief shapes her decisions, from clinging to Catholic beliefs to confronting hidden illness. The emotional weight threads through the choice to start a school choir as a way to honor memory. The theme shows grief as a catalyst for personal and communal renewal.
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Music Healing
Choral singing becomes a bridge between Mareta and her students, offering a space to channel trauma into performance. The choir's rehearsals reveal vulnerabilities and strengths, building trust across social divides. The music acts as a language for healing and a vehicle for identity. The Big Sing quest tests their unity and courage.
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Class Privilege
The private St Francis School represents privilege and tradition, clashing with Mareta's working‑class background and Samoan community. Tensions with the school board, notably Peter Wadsworth, highlight resistance to change and cultural inclusion. The students, despite wealth, carry personal traumas that complicate the dynamic. The narrative explores how privilege can both enable and hinder growth.
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Courage
Mareta faces a terminal cancer diagnosis while guiding the choir, testing her resolve and leadership. Her students' loyalty pushes them to persevere even as she falters. Sophie, Anthony, Mei‑Ling, and Luke step up to keep the choir alive in Mareta's absence. The finale demonstrates personal sacrifice for a shared dream and community.
Tinā Spoiler-Free Summary
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In the wake of a personal tragedy that has left her adrift, Mareta Percival—a Samoan‑heritage teacher from a modest Christchurch suburb—finds herself stepping into the immaculate corridors of an elite, predominantly white private school. The institution, with its rigid traditions and polished exterior, feels worlds apart from the community she once served, yet the quiet desperation she carries hints at a purpose waiting to be rediscovered among its orderly halls.
The school’s leadership, embodied by the retiring headmaster Alan Hubbard and the exacting deputy principal Peter Wadsworth, presents a landscape of both opportunity and subtle resistance. While some staff question the fit of an outsider, others are intrigued by the possibility of something fresh breaking through the school’s conventional rhythm. It is within this delicate balance that Mareta senses a hidden yearning among the students—an appetite for connection, expression, and a sense of belonging that transcends their privileged upbringing.
Guided by her cultural roots and a deep well of Samoan musical heritage, Mareta begins to envisage a classroom that sings rather than merely instructs. She envisions turning the students’ latent energy into collaborative harmony, inviting them to explore rhythm and song as a language of empathy and care. The prospect of forming a choir becomes a quiet rebellion against the school’s austerity, promising a space where voices can intertwine across cultural lines.
Supporting characters such as Sio, her nephew and social‑work confidant, the devoted priest Father McAfee, and former student Sophie—each bring their own layers of hope and skepticism. Their interactions hint at a transformative journey where music, faith, and newfound community may bridge the gap between loss and renewal, setting the stage for a story that resonates long after the final note fades.
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