Trevor Bentley has a PhD in history in has had a long-standing interest in the interaction of Maori and Pakeha in pre-Treaty New Zealand and the Europeans who entered Maori tribal societies voluntarily and involuntarily. He has done significant research on New Zealand history pre-Treaty of Waitangi, and on "culture crossers". He has written four books on the subject: Pakeha Maori, Captured by Maori, Cannibal Jack and most recently Pakeha Slaves, Maori Masters. He is an adult education director for four Waikato colleges and is a member of the NZ Military History Society.