Quote by Witi Ihimaera: “When you know where you come from, you know where you are going.”

This quote emphasizes the importance of understanding your heritage and past. It suggests that knowing your roots—your family, culture, and history—provides a strong foundation and clear direction for your future journey in life.

Ihimaera's 'The Whale Rider' celebrates Māori identity and tradition, highlighting the strength derived from ancestral knowledge and cultural continuity amidst a modernizing New Zealand, in a time of growing indigenous self-awareness.

New Zealand Māori novelist and the first Māori writer to publish a novel in English, with Tangi appearing in 1973. His 1987 novel The Whale Rider was later adapted into the acclaimed 2002 film. His work centres on Māori identity, community, and the relationship between tradition and modernity.