Teriu Le Mon was born in Rotorua and educated at Kaingaroa Area School and Rotorua Boys’ High School. He attended Wellington Polytechnic and Hamilton Polytechnic and has been awarded an Executant Certificate in Music, an Executant Diploma of Music, and a Multimedia Advanced Certificate. He is currently completing a Multimedia Producer Diploma. Le Mon describes himself as a Cook Island/Māori poet, musician and multimedia producer. He is currently preparing new work for multimedia production. He writes poetry, short stories, plays, waiata and non-fiction work and has been engaged in writing a Māori rock opera. He has poetry published in Province: New Nelson Writing. He is Editor of Te Kuaha, a private publication of writings and waiata of Te Remana Kiwikiwi Whanau, which has had three editions since 1996 and is not released to the public. His inspirations continue to be life, love, the land, his whanau, his partner Kim and their daughter Elysium.
Biographical sources
- Correspondence and phone conversation with Le Mon, 4 Feb, 12 June, and 7 July 1998.
- Province: New Nelson Writing. Ed. Rachel Bush and Carol Markwell. Consultant Ed. Bill Manhire. Nelson, N.Z.: Nelson Provincial Arts Council, 1987. 83.
Poetry
- "Airport Anxiety." Province: New Nelson Writing. Ed. Rachel Bush and Carol Markwell. Consultant Ed. Bill Manhire. Nelson, N.Z.: Nelson Provincial Arts Council, 1987. 18-19.
- The speaker articulates his excitement at the arrival of his special friend at the airport. The poet employs a light-hearted tone and playful use of words to emphasise this bubbling sense of anticipation and uncertainty.