Prince Tui Teka

Tumanako "Tui" Teka (28 January 193723 January 1985), better known by his stage names Tui Latui or Prince Tui Teka, was a Māori singer and actor. Teka was a member of the Maori Volcanics Showband before having a successful solo career.

Career Teka was born in Ruatāhuna, New Zealand near Te Urewera. His parents were both musicians, and he learnt to play the guitar and saxophone at a young age.

He moved to Sydney in the early 1950s. In 1959, Teka, Jonny Nicol, and Mat Tenana joined the Royal Samoans and Maoris. The band was later renamed Prince Tui Latui & The Maori Troubadours. In 1968, he joined Maori Volcanics Showband, touring the Pacific for six years. In 1972, he began his solo career, and returned home releasing two albums: Real Love and Oh Mum, as well as the Māori love song "E Ipo".

In 1974, he met with Noel Tio; both Tui and Noel had known each other since 1958, so Noel Tio Enterprises Pty Ltd. became his (Australia only) manager for 11 years. Before his death in 1985, he was in the West German TV series Jack Holborn and starred in New Zealand films Came a Hot Friday and Savage Islands.

Teka died in 1985, aged 47, of a heart attack in his room while waiting to perform at the Ruawai Tavern in Northland, and was survived by his wife Missy and daughters Davinia and Missy Jr. Missy died in 2008 in a motor vehicle accident.

Discography