About the Author

Dr Deidre Brown is a Maori art and architectural historian of northern Ngapuhi, Ngati Kahu, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa and Pakeha descent. Her previous books include Tai Tokerau Whakairo Rakau: Northland Maori Wood Carving (2003, winner of the Best First Book Award, Non-Fiction at the 2004 Montana New Zealand Book Awards), Introducing Maori Art (2005), Maori Arts of the Gods (2005) and Te Puna: Maori Art from Te Tai Tokerau Northland (2007, co-edited with Ngarino Ellis). She is currently Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland.