Born in Gisborne, Witi Ihimaera began writing seriously in the 1960s, and published his first book, Pounamu Pounamu, in 1972.
He describes his Burns tenure in his own words: ‘Ah, Dun Eideann! The land of Scotitanga! Was I the only Maori in Maori Hill? I may have been. But, I was adopted by your iwi and found shelter among your people. In particular, Rakamaomao, your southern wind was kind and, blowing from the shore enabled me - following my first three books, when I needed direction - to launch my fourth, “The New Net Goes Fishing”, seaward. And so the lines taking the trailing hooks through the breakwater flowed forward into Te Ao Marama.’]]>
Witi Ihimaera]]> Books]]>