fighter + writer + teacher
I was raised in Taranaki and grew up a reluctant reader. At school, I got into a lot of trouble but endured until my final year, leaving to pursue my passion for becoming a professional MMA fighter. Ultimately, I won six national championships across four different sports, finishing all my MMA fights, except the one I lost, in the first or second round.
It wasn’t until I put down the gloves that I discovered books could hit just as hard.
Today, I write best-selling stories rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand. My work ranges from gritty literary fiction to playful storytelling for young readers, with a consistent focus on those living at the margins and finding their way through adversity.
My long-term goal is to write ten books over ten years, creating a cohesive yet evolving experience for readers. Each project will build upon the last, deepening core themes and expanding this world of stories.
Finally, I run a YouTube channel, Intuitions of a Writer, where I discuss the craft of writing, the lessons I have learned along the way, and the realities of building a creative life. The channel features a mix of short-form insights and long-form videos, including recorded talks during my festival tours.
books
The Bone Tree (2023)
A dark, gritty reimagining of Hunt for the Wilderpeople set on a farm just outside an unnamed large town in Taranaki.
When his father dies suddenly, Black conspires to keep his younger brother, Kauri, out of the hands of child welfare, fearing separation second only to one thing - growing to be his father.
The Bone Tree topped New Zealand’s fiction charts for 11 weeks.
Pātea Boys (2024)
A playful, two-way bilingual collection for young adults, reading in English one direction and in te reo Māori the other. Imagine Malcolm in the Middle and Home Alone set in small-town New Zealand.
Turi and his sister Hine fill their days with shenanigans - cheating at cross-country, doing bombs when the lifeguard isn’t looking, and generally testing the patience of their long-suffering grandmother.
Pātea Boys was written to help people learn and engage with te reo Māori.
The Last Living Cannibal (2025)
A historical novel with comedic undertones, set in Taranaki during World War II, when many Māori refused conscription. We’ve had many books on the Māori Batallion, this is the story of those who stayed home.
Koko, a veteran of the New Zealand Wars, struggles to protect his whānau - from the war, from the encroachment of another iwi, and from themselves most of all.
The Last Living Cannibal topped New Zealand’s fiction charts for three weeks.
upcoming
The Comeback Kid (2026–2027)
Inspired by Rocky and The Karate Kid, this middle-grade series for reluctant readers plunges into the world of mixed martial arts.
More news coming in the near future.
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