Dieback

Socially challenged eleven-year-old Peter Macneill has real difficulties when his family is forced to move to a broken-down house in Birkenhead. Then he discovers pekapeka bats living in his backyard trees. With the help of AGNES and her mokopuna TTui, Peter vows to protect the bats from predators, both animal and human. The worst of these is Oxley Development Ltd who plan to build apartments on the site. They'll do anything to destroy the trees, including introducing dieback disease, poisoning, and even arson. When a pūriri is set on fire Peter finds a new inner strength which surmounts his difficulties and saves the day.