Quote by Patricia Grace: “Our people's courage flows like a river, strong and unwavering.”

Grace uses the imagery of a powerful river to describe the inherent and persistent bravery of her people. This quote celebrates the unwavering spirit and collective resilience of Māori communities facing adversity.

Grace's novels often depict characters who embody the strength and resilience of Māori confronting challenges to their land, culture, and sovereignty, drawing on deep spiritual and communal reserves, as seen in 'Potiki'.

New Zealand Māori author and the first Māori woman to publish a novel in English, with Mutuwhenua appearing in 1978. Her fiction centres on Māori family and community life and the enduring connection between people and land. She received the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2008.