[1] At the same time, he edited and revised many classic reference works on Māori 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 Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Calman married Ariana Tikao, a singer, composer, musician, librarian and writer, in 2002 and they have two children.
[4][1] 2023: Calman received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canterbury/Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha for his work revitalising the Māori language.
[3] Calman was born in Upper Hutt in the early 1970s, and grew up in Auckland, Rotorua and Taranaki.
[1][4] His mother came from a Pākehā farming family in Rotorua while his father's parentage included a Māori mother descended from Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, and Ngāi Tahu.