Pākehā is a Māori-language term for New Zealanders who have no Polynesian ethnic ancestry, primarily European New Zealanders. Pākehā is not a legal concept and has no definition under New Zealand law. Most inclusively the term can apply to any non-Māori New Zealander. Papa'a has a similar meaning in Cook Islands Māori.

Michael King was a New Zealand historian, author, and biographer. He wrote or edited over 30 books on New Zealand topics, including the best-selling Penguin History of New Zealand, which was the most popular New Zealand book of 2004.