Witi Ihimaera was the first Māori to publish a novel, Tangi, in 1973. He has gone on to become one of New Zealand’s leading writers, exploring Maori stories and history through literature, theatre and film. The first volume of his memoir, Māori Boy, won the Ockham Award for best non-fiction in 2016. He is currently working on the second volume of his memoir and other projects including Flowing Water, a musical drama set in the Waikato during the New Zealand Wars. He is ot Te Whanau a Kai, Te aitanga a Mahaki, rongowhakaata, Tuhoe, Whakatohea and Nagti Oprou descent.