Dr Hirini Kaa, of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata, is an historian and Anglican minister (like family members before him). Now working for Te Hāhi MIhinare (the Māori Anglican Church), he seeks to reinforce the importance of mātauranga (a Māori worldview) across the Church and into communities.

Dr Kaa has also worked in the social services sector, for his iwi, and works with a wide range of organisations to understand the place and importance of mātauranga. Since researching and presenting the historical documentary series The Prophets for Māori Television, he has gone on to become a significant media commentator on a range of critical topics.

His book Te Hāhi Mihinare published by Bridget Williams Books was a finalist in the New Zealand Book Awards 2021, and was joint winner of the Ernest Scott Prize 2021 for best history in Australia and New Zealand.

Verb Readers & Writers Festival Events 2021:
Faith in the time of the pandemic, Sat 6 Nov, 7.15pm (LitCrawl)
What We Talk About When We Think About the Future, Sat 6 Nov, 8.30pm (LitCrawl)

Books