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.