White Lies

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.

A powerful, prize-winning novella from the much-loved author of The Whale Rider, plus a moving screenplay, film stills and commentary on writing and movie making. A medicine woman a giver of life is asked to hide a secret that may protect a position in society, but could have fatal consequences. When she is approached by the servant of a wealthy woman, three very different women become players in a head-on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation. This compelling story tackles moral dilemmas, exploring the nature of identity, societal attitudes to the roles of women and the tension between Western and traditional Maori medicine. This book, though, is also about the richness of creativity, illustrating the way a single story can take on different lives. The original novella, Medicine Woman, has been rewritten and expanded by Witi Ihimaera to become White Lies. It has also evolved into a screenplay by internationally acclaimed director and screenwriter Dana Rotberg, which has been made into a superb film by South Pacific Pictures. Thus this book offers an intriguing insight into the process of adapting work, as well as offering new versions of this potent story. Nga Kupu Ora Aotearoa Maori Book Awards 2013, winner of the Te Pakimaero / Fiction category

A powerful, prize-winning novella from the much-loved author of The Whale Rider, plus a moving screenplay, film stills and commentary on writing and movie making. A medicine woman a giver of life is asked to hide a secret that may protect a position in society, but could have fatal consequences. When she is approached by the servant of a wealthy woman, three very different women become players in a head-on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation. This compelling story tackles moral dilemmas, exploring the nature of identity, societal attitudes to the roles of women and the tension between Western and traditional Maori medicine. This book, though, is also about the richness of creativity, illustrating the way a single story can take on different lives. The original novella, Medicine Woman, has been rewritten and expanded by Witi Ihimaera to become White Lies. It has also evolved into a screenplay by internationally acclaimed director and screenwriter Dana Rotberg, which has been made into a superb film by South Pacific Pictures. Thus this book offers an intriguing insight into the process of adapting work, as well as offering new versions of this potent story. Nga Kupu Ora Aotearoa Maori Book Awards 2013, winner of the Te Pakimaero / Fiction category