Whale Rider

Ihimaera wurde nahe Gisborne, einer Stadt im Osten der Nordinsel Neuseelands geboren. Seine Mutter war eine Mâori aus dem Iwi Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, sein Vater Tom angelsächsischer Herkunft. Er begann sein Berufsleben 1973 als Diplomat beim neuseeländischen Außenministerium und bekleidete verschiedene diplomatische Posten in Canberra, New York und Washington. Er blieb bis 1989 mit Unterbrechungen durch Fellowships an der University of Otago (1975) und der Victoria University of Wellington im Jahre 1982 in diesem Ministerium. An der Victoria University of Wellington graduierte er zum Bachelor of Arts. 1990 übernahm er eine Stellung als Professor und Distinguished Creative Fellow in Mâori-Literatur an der University of Auckland.
Der Großteil von Ihimaeras Werk besteht aus Kurzgeschichten und Romanen. In seinen Geschichten beschäftigt sich Ihimaera mit der Kultur der Mâori im modernen Neuseeland und den Problemen in der zeitgenössischen Gesellschaft der Mâori.
Sein Neffe Gary Christie Lewis heiratete 2004 Davina Windsor und wurde damit der erste Mâori, der in die britische Königsfamilie einheiratete.

An international bestseller that was made into a multiple award-winning film.Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather's love and attention. But he is focused on his duties as chief of a Maori tribe in Whangara, on the East Coast of New Zealand - a tribe that claims descent from the legendary 'whale rider'. In every generation since the whale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir - there's only Kahu. She should be the next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl. Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle she has a unique ally: the whale rider himself, from whom she has inherited the ability to communicate with whales. Once that sacred gift is revealed, Kahu may be able to re-establish her people's ancestral connections, earn her great-grandfather's attention - and lead her tribe to a bold new future.

An international bestseller that was made into a multiple award-winning film.Eight-year-old Kahu craves her great-grandfather's love and attention. But he is focused on his duties as chief of a Maori tribe in Whangara, on the East Coast of New Zealand - a tribe that claims descent from the legendary 'whale rider'. In every generation since the whale rider, a male has inherited the title of chief. But now there is no male heir - there's only Kahu. She should be the next in line for the title, but her great-grandfather is blinded by tradition and sees no use for a girl. Kahu will not be ignored. And in her struggle she has a unique ally: the whale rider himself, from whom she has inherited the ability to communicate with whales. Once that sacred gift is revealed, Kahu may be able to re-establish her people's ancestral connections, earn her great-grandfather's attention - and lead her tribe to a bold new future.