Nick Tupara was born in Gisborne/Turanganui-a-Kiwa and was educated at Gisborne Boys’ High. He went to Auckland University and graduated in 1986 with B.A. in Māori Studies, Art History and Anthropology. He continued his studies in Australia where he studied toward a Bachelor of Applied Science at Canberra University. He graduated in 1990. He did a post-grad diploma in Rock Art Conservation at Canberra University. Following this, he returned to New Zealand and worked as a conservation intern with the Historic Places Trust and then became head of the Māori heritage Unit at the Trust. He was curator of Māori Ethnographic collections at the Gisborne Museum from He then returned to the Trust and became Head of the Māori Heritage Unit, a position he currently holds. He has delivered papers on the conservation of indigenous heritage and heritage collections to various conferences nationally and internationally.
Biographical sources
- Tupara, Nick. "Conserving Marae Buildings." New Zealand Historical Places 36 (1992): 27-29.
Non-fiction
- "Conserving Marae Buildings." New Zealand Historical Places 36 (Mar. 1992): 27-29.
- Tupara discusses the Historic Places Trust marae restoration projects in Ruatoki and Te Waimana. He notes Cliff Whiting’s survey of marae in these areas and the conservation workshops held at Te Rewarewa Marae in Ruatoki and at Tatai A Hape Marae in Te Waimana in 1984-85 which helped train Māori to restore their own meeting houses.