Heretaunga Baker, author of Behind The Tattooed Face, was born at Rakaia and grew up in Raukokore, Omaramutu and Ōpōtiki.

He was educated at Te Aute College and the University of Canterbury.  He was the first Māori to gain a university bursary to study journalism. After active service in the Second World War he returned to New Zealand and worked for the Grey River Argus in Greymouth and the Star Sun in Christchurch. before beginning to farm at Ōpōtiki. He was secretary of Te Waipounamu District Māori Council from 1965-1970, was first chair of the Canterbury Museum of Science and Industry, and was also the District Council observer on the Māori Education Foundation of the University of Canterbury.

He died in 1988, leaving in manuscript of this novel, The Strongest God.