Award-winning author Tīhema Baker releases latest speculative novel exploring Māori mental health and dreaming

PŌNEKE — Acclaimed speculative fiction writer Tīhema Baker has reached a new milestone in his literary career with the release of his latest novel, One Day a Taniwha. Published by Moa Press, the work represents the author's most significant move into mainstream publishing to date, following the success of his 2023 satirical hit, Turncoat. In this new release, Baker explores the intersection of Māori men’s mental health and the spiritual potential of dreaming. The narrative follows Hōhepa, a sleep-deprived new father, as he navigates a psychological journey where the waking world and vivid dream sequences begin to merge. The novel utilizes what is described as "astro travel," allowing the protagonist to maintain a connection to his whenua at Rarity Cove through his dreamscapes. According to a review published by Newsroom on 22 October 2026, One Day a Taniwha places Baker within a rich lineage of Māori storytellers who center dreams at the heart of their narratives. The work echoes the sentiments of Keri Hulme’s 1984 essay, ‘Myth, Omen, Ghost and Dream,’ which suggests that Māori people set great store by dreams as messengers of both the sublime and the practical. While the story tackles serious themes—including the impacts of the current political landscape on the individual—it maintains Baker’s signature speculative style. The author, who began his career at age 17 with the novel Watched, has been praised for his ability to transition from allegory and satire into more grounded, yet still imaginative, adult literature. By blending social realism with the "weird" elements of speculative fiction, Baker provides a unique lens through which to view contemporary Māori fatherhood and psychological resilience.