Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an author and filmmaker. His 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 him the first author to win for both fiction and non-fiction. His first book, In Dark Places, about the Teina Pora case, won Best Non-Fiction at the Ngaio Marsh Awards. Bennett was the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, in recognition of members of the Māori filmmaking community who have made high-level contributions to screen storytelling. Carved in Blood is the third book in his Hana Westerman trilogy which has been confirmed for adaptation and is being developed by TVNZ. He lives in Auckland.