Witi Ihimaera was born in Gisborne, graduated BA from
Victoria University of Wellington and now lives in Auckland. His titles
include Pounamu, Pounamu, Tangi, The Matriarch, Bulibasha, Nights in
the Gardens of Spain and The Dream Swimmer. As librettist, he has worked in opera, song cycle and
symphony with narration. As editor, his books include Growing Up Maori,
Mataora: Contemporary Maori Art and the
five-volume Te Ao Marama series. He has just
completed his second play, Woman Far Walking
, and a biography of the soprano Virginia
Zeani.
