Step into Unity Books for an extraordinary evening with Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hinerangi)—a masterful storyteller whose words have reshaped the landscape of crime fiction and justice in Aotearoa.
Bennett’s Hana Westerman series—Better The Blood (2022), Return To Blood (2024), and the upcoming Carved In Blood (2025)—is a groundbreaking literary achievement: the first crime thriller series featuring a Māori detective, written by a Māori author. These gripping novels are now studied in classrooms across the country, inspiring a new generation of readers and thinkers.
His award-winning non-fiction work In Dark Places is a haunting and powerful account of his relentless fight to free Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongfully imprisoned for 21 years. It’s not just a book—it’s a testament to courage, compassion, and the pursuit of truth.
Michael Bennett doesn’t just speak—he mesmerizes. Whether he’s exploring the intricacies of whakapapa, the pulse of whānau, or the art of storytelling through film and literature, his presence is electric. This isn’t just an author talk—it’s a rare chance to witness a voice that moves hearts and minds.
Tickets are $10 and $5 of that will be redeemable against purchases made on the night.
Park for $2.50 per hour, to a maximum of $10.50 on evenings and weekends at the Victoria St car park. Find out more.