Since he was born, Riwias baby brother, Tawa, has been in Auckland Hospital, and his family has come to stay in Auckland. While Riwia goes to school and Dad works as a cook, Mum stays with Tawa. Their Aunty Sues house is full, and renting is expensive, so Riwia and her parents live in a van, the Stargazer, in the park. Sometimes its scary at night when people shout at them in the park, but the weekend is good when they go to Aunty Sues and Dad cooks a boil-up and they all have a shower. But Tawa is getting sicker, and he dies. The family travels back to Te Teko, taking Tawa to the marae for his tangi and burial. Riwia learns about the journey Tawas spirit will make to farewell Aotearoa and join the waka of stars that gathers the spirits of the dead. And at Matariki, the family remembers Tawa and gathersto see his spirit burning brightly as a star.