Hineamaru was born in Kawakawa and was educated at Matawaia School, Motatau School and Bay of Islands College. She has trained and worked as a motor mechanic, electronic technician, driver instructor and national trainer for road safety. She is General Manager of Manukau Urban Māori Authority Road Safety, and Project Manager Crime Prevention for Counties Manukau.
Hineamaru attended a writing workshop led by Witi Ihimaera at Manukau Technical Institute. She has taught Māori students reading and writing at Nga Whare Waatea. Her married name is Hineāmaru Ropati.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence from Hineamaru Ropati, 27 May 2004.
- Te Iwi o Aotearoa 36 (1990): 3.
Non-fiction
- "Whakaruruhau Course." Te Iwi o Aotearoa 36 (1990): 3, 5.
- Cooper describes the various modules taught in the Whakaruruhau Courses which include driving education, sexual awareness, civil defence, literacy and numeracy, shoemaking, and music education.