Michael (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an author and filmmaker. Michael’s debut novel, Better the Blood was published in New Zealand, USA, UK, and Australia, with ten translations. It was shortlisted or won numerous awards, including finalist for the 2022 Jann Medlicott fiction prize, and finalist for the Barry Awards (USA). Better The Blood won Best First Novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards, making Michael the first author to win for both fiction and non-fiction. Michael devoted many years to the fight for justice for Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongly imprisoned for 21 years. His first book, In Dark Places, about Teina’s case, won Best Non-Fiction at the Ngaio Marsh Awards. Michael made a documentary which unearthed evidence pivotal to Teina’s exoneration and directed and co-wrote an award-winning dramatic feature film about Teina. Michael is co-curator (with daughter Matariki) of the Auckland Writers’ Festival. Michael’s latest, Carved In Blood was published May 2025, the third novel in his Hana Westerman series.