Claire Kaahu White, who affiliates to Kāi Tahu, was born and raised in Christchurch, where she completed an English degree from Canterbury University. She has published two non-fiction histories, Not for oneself but for all and Te Ahupēhio a Hātā Maria. She has also worked on the Ngāi Tahu publications, Te Karaka as a writer and Te Pānui Rūnaka as an editor, and has had short stories and poetry published in anthologies. She is also a tutor in contemporary New Zealand art; her photographs have been exhibited in galleries and exhibition spaces throughout Aotearoa. She is currently working on a project digitising documents and photographs belonging to the Hokianga Historical Society.