John Katipa

In a seemingly quiet country town the newest resident, Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, finds that murder lurks in even the most homely location.

In 1860s New Zealand, a young Irish woman desperately trying to find her son finds herself caught on both sides of the lines during the wars between Māori tribes and the British colonial army.

Blind Bitter Happiness captures the messy awkwardness of family life, the hard and hilarious truths of childhood, and the hilarity in our seemingly banal everyday battles.

Ariana is in trouble with the law. Aided by a sympathetic social worker the young Māori woman defends herself against assault charges after a police raid on her home.