Taura Eruera was born in Taumarunui and was educated at Westlake Boys High School. He was a co-founder of Nga Tamatoa in 1970 and was involved in the National Māori Language Day, Māori language learning classes and marae restoration projects. He graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology and Māori studies from Auckland University in 1975 and was an Anthropology Junior Lecturer at Auckland University. He was a cofounder of Nga Puna Waihanga and attended the initial hui at Te Kaha. Eruera became a house father for his two children. In 1981 he studied at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles and the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, graduating with a Diploma in Professional Guitar. He studied composition and arranging at Grove and when he returned to New Zealand, he opened the School of Creative Musicianship in Grey Lynn until 1987. Eruera taught music privately for three years and had two more children in 1986 and 1989. He began working for Te Runanga o Ngāti Whatua in Auckland and in 1992 co-founded Mai FM 88.6 radio station in Auckland. This coincided with the birth of his youngest son. He is currently a chief executive with Tihi Ora Mapo, an organisation that co-funds (with the Health Funding Authority) health and disability services for 72, 000 Māori in the Ngāti Whatua Rohe. He writes songs and waiata and music instruction books.
Eruera currently teaches guitar and customizes compliant Facebook Apps for businesses.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation with Taura Eruera, 11 August 1998.
- Tu Tangata 14 (1983): 12-13.
-
https://about.me/taura.eruera 8 November 2016
-
https://tauraguitarteacher.musicteachershelper.com/ 8 November 2016
Non-fiction
- "Assess the Main Areas of Māori Grievance During the period 1960-74." University of Auckland History Society Annual 1975: 6-14.
- "Being Purely and Solely Alone, a Bloody Solitary and Pure Artist - That’s Crap." New Argot : The Magazine of the New Zealand Students’ Arts Council 3.2 (1975): 2.
- In this extensive interview, Hone Tuwhare discusses his introduction to writing poetry, early poetry readings, the publishing of his poetry and his role as a Māori poet.
- "Conversation: Taura Speaks with Hone Tuwhare." Koru 1 (1976): n.pag.
- In this interview, possibly an abridged version of the above interview, Tuwhare discusses his introduction into poetry, public readings, Māori artists and writers’ hui, and other influences on his work.
- "Rhythm's real easy." New Zealand Musician 6.7 (Feb/Mar 1997): 46-47.
- "Taura Eruera." Takaparawhau: The Peoples Story: 1998 Bastion Point 20 Year Commemoration Book. Ed. Sharon Hawke. Auckland, N.Z.: Moko Productions, 1998. 25.
- One of 34 accounts and recollections of the Bastion Point occupation.
Sound recordings
- Ruatepupuke. Wellington, N.Z.: Te Pou Taki Korero, c1997.
- Co-authors Brannigan Kaa, Wi Kuki Kaa and Marc Wagner.
Other
- Reweti, Debra. "Taura Eruera - Putting the Fire Back in the Belly." Tu Tangata 14 (1983): 12-13.
- Biographical article on Eruera in which he articulates his road from academia to opening a School of Creative Musicianship in Grey Lynn.