He was born in Whangara and was educated at Whangara Primary School and Te Aute College. He continued his studies at Auckland Teachers’ College from 1949-50; he graduated with a Dip. Teaching. He began university studies as an external student at Auckland University and continued at Massey University and the University of Canterbury, graduating with a B.A. in English. He was awarded a Woolf Fisher Scholarship and spent time with Aboriginal groups in Sydney looking specifically at their ability to understand English concepts and ascertain the common or uncommon features expressed. He has worked as an educationalist and has been a secondary teacher in North Island Schools. He was Inspector of Schools in the Southern Region and East Coast. He was a Lecturer in Māori Studies at Christchurch Secondary Teachers’ College and a Curriculum Officer for the Department of Education. He has a Māori Interpreter’s Certificate. He writes short stories and has also written unpublished waiata and poetry.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Taumaunu: 6 and 19 Mar. 1998.
Non-fiction
- "Education In A Bi-Racial Society." New Zealand Speech Therapists’ Journal 26.2 (1971): 27-29.
- In this text of Taumaunu’s address to the Primary Division of the Christchurch Teachers’ College on July 1971, Taumaunu presents keys for teachers working in a bi-racial society. Under the headings of what teachers need to know and what they must do, Taumaunu speaks of the importance of learning about the cultural background of the Māori child and being prepared to experience some of the culture. He also provides examples of teaching methods that have proven successful with Māori children.
- "Ruatapu’s Revenge: A Māori Legend of the Ngāti-Porou People, Retold By Hone Taumaunu." Illus. Penny Martin. School Journal 2.4 (1985): 10-16.
- When Ruatapu notices that his father Uenuku favours his older brother, Paikea, he decides to kill his brother during a fishing excursion. Paikea, however, is rescued by whales and as Ruatapu drowns he urges Paikea to find a new land, a new Whangara where Ruatapu’s seven tidal waves would visit every Spring.
Reviews
- "An Assessment of Hone Tuwhare’s Anthology No Ordinary Sun." Multi-Cultural School 10 (1978-79): 17-19.