The Swimmer and The Whales
Witi Ihimaera Smiler
Witi Ihimaera Smiler will kōrero with filmmaker Hamish Bennett about his new memoir, Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer, as well as his highly anticipated new YA novel, The Star Path of the Whales: A Return to the Realm of The Whale Rider, which revisits the classic novel that became the classic film. They will also discuss Ariā and the Monster Island, the third children’s book in the Astromancer series.
Join Witi Ihimaera Smiler for an intimate kōrero about how he reclaimed his voice, history and whakapapa by studying te reo Māori. Today a youthful 82-year-old, Witi is more prolific than ever, with three books out in 2026. Witi will kōrero with filmmaker Hamish Bennett about his new memoir, Te Kaikaukau | The Swimmer, as well as his highly anticipated new YA novel, The Star Path of the Whales: A Return to the Realm of The Whale Rider, which revisits the classic novel that became the classic film. They will also discuss Ariā and the Monster Island, the third children’s book in the Astromancer series.
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