The Matriarch

The Matriarch is a 1986 novel by Witi Ihimaera, a prominent Māori author from New Zealand. The novel, along with its sequel The Dream Swimmer, explores the long-term consequences of European colonization on a Māori family across several generations. Ihimaera's work often depicts the tension between traditional Māori cultural values and the encroaching Western, Pākehā (white, European-derived) societal norms. The Matriarch is noted for its political engagement with Māori issues, highlighting the impact of colonialism and racism while also portraying the resilience and fight of the Māori people. A matriarch is defined as a woman who rules or dominates a family, group, or state, specifically a mother who is the head and ruler of her family and descendants.123