Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an award-winning screenwriter, director and author. His first book, a non-fiction work telling the true story of New Zealand’s worst miscarriage of justice, In Dark Places, won Best Non-Fiction Book. His debut novel, Better the Blood was published in May 2022. It was shortlisted for the Ockham Book Awards, and won the best first book award in this year's Ngaio Marsh Award. His new novel, Return to Blood will be published in April.