Ross Calman is a New Zealand writer, editor, historian, and translator of the MÃÂori language. He lives in Wellington.
At the University of Canterbury, Calman studied English literature. At Te WÃÂnanga o Raukawa in à Âtaki, he studied te reo MÃÂori (MÃÂori language). His career began in government and publishing, where he specialised in reo and kaupapa MÃÂori (MÃÂori language and topics). At the same time, he edited and revised many classic reference works on MÃÂori subjects by Reed Publishers and wrote introductory books on the Treaty of Waitangi and the New Zealand Wars, and numerous articles on historical topics for the School Journal and for '.
In 2014, Calman embarked on the project to edit and translate TÃÂmihana Te Rauparaha's 50,000-word manuscript account of the life of his father, the NgÃÂti Toa chief Te Rauparaha. Calman is a descendant of Te Rauparaha. The project took six years to complete, with the publication of / A Record of the Life of the Great Te Rauparaha in 2020.
In 2019 Calman was awarded Te Toi Reo MÃÂori, the professional translator's qualification administered by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo MÃÂori, the MÃÂori Language Commission.
Calman married Ariana Tikao, a singer, composer, musician, librarian and writer, in 2002 and they have two children.
In 2023, Calman received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury/Te Whare WÃÂnanga o Waitaha for his work revitalising the MÃÂori language.
His book The Treaty of Waitangi: Te Tiriti o Waitangi won the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year Award and the Elsie Locke Award for Non-Fiction at the 2025 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Later that year, Calman received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement.
Calman was born in Upper Hutt in the early 1970s, and grew up in Auckland, Rotorua and Taranaki. His mother came from a PÃÂkehÃÂ farming family in Rotorua while his father's parentage included a MÃÂori mother descended from NgÃÂti Toa, NgÃÂti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and NgÃÂi Tahu. Calman is also a descendant of Te Rauparaha through a peace marriage between Te Rauparaha's granddaughter Ria Te Uira and Peneta Nohoa of the NgÃÂi Tahu tribe.