Author talk: The Taniwha, Fatherhood and Identity with Tihema Baker

Fatherhood can be transformative, exhausting and frightening — but what happens when the fears of a new parent begin to take on a life of their own? In his novel One Day a Taniwha, Ōtaki writer Tīhema Baker explores the darker side of becoming a father through Hepa, a new dad struggling with sleep deprivation, mounting pressure and a growing sense that he is losing control. As Hepa’s anxieties intensify, the boundary between what is real and what he fears becomes increasingly uncertain. Drawing on te ao Māori, Baker uses the taniwha as a powerful lens through which to examine fatherhood, identity, vulnerability and the expectations placed on men as they raise the next generation. In conversation with Gladys Henderson, Baker will reflect on the inspiration behind the novel, including his own experiences of new parenthood. Together, they will consider what it means to be a father today, how men can navigate the challenges of raising children, and what boys need from the people guiding them into adulthood. About Tīhema Baker Tīhema Baker (Raukawa te Au ki te Tonga, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) is a writer from Ōtaki whose work explores the complex intersections of te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā. His writing draws on personal and professional experience to examine culture, identity and contemporary life. His debut novel, Turncoat, was longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. He has also written a young adult novel series, short stories and essays. About Gladys Henderson Gladys Henderson (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa) works in the research and design of indigenous economic and accounting models, policies and processes. Growing up among avid readers and accomplished storytellers fostered her enduring love of language and narrative, which continues to shape her professional outlook and approach to problem-solving. Supported by New Voices of Aotearoa and The Coalition for Books. Part of the Queenstown Writers Festival, running 5–8 November 2026.