Witi Ihimaera is of Te Whanau a Kai, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata, Tuhoe, Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngati Porou descent. He was the first Maori to publish a novel, Tangi, in 1973. He has subsequently gone on to become one of New Zealand's leading writers. He is passionate about writing Maori stories and creating opportunities for them to be shown not only in print but also in theatre and on film. His memoir, Maori Boy, won the Ockham Award for the best non-fiction work, 2016. His play, All Our Sons, won six Wellington theatre awards and will be produced by the Auckland Theatre Company in 2018. He is currently writing the second volume of his memoir and other projects, including an opera, Flowing Water, which is set in the Waikato during the New Zealand Wars. He lives in Auckland. Hemi Kelly is of Ngati Maniapoto descent. He is a full time lecturer in te reo Maori at the Auckland University of Technology and an assistant researcher at Te Ipukarea, the National Maori Language Institute. Alongside the Maori language, Hemi has a passion for waiata composition, writing, translation and Maori visual and performing arts. Hemi is a licensed translator and graduate of Te Panakiretanga o Te Reo, the Institute of Excellence in the Maori language. He is a highly regarded spokesperson on Maori culture and is often seen on Maori television.