Tauanu'u Perenise Tapu Sitagata teaches at McAuley High School in Otahuhu and the Centre for Pacific Languages in Manukau. He is a driver of the annual Samoan Language Week Secondary School Debate, which is one of his main inspirations for this book, and has received the National Excellence in Teaching Award for his efforts in teaching the Samoan language.

Ani Huia Ligaliga is a Maori artist and illustrator. She studied art at Brigham Young University, Hawai'i. Her other illustrations include The Ever-Standing Tree, by Tim Tipene (Oratia Books, 2024). Ani lives in Hamilton.