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Tui Uru

1926 – 2013

New Zealand opera singer

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About Tui Uru

Lived 1926 – 2013 (aged 87). Tui Uru was a New Zealand opera singer.

Tui Uru (20 January 1926 – 26 April 2013) was a New Zealand opera singer and broadcaster. She was the first Māori television announcer.

Early life and family Born in Wellington on 20 January 1926, Uru affiliated to the Ngāi Tūāhuriri hapū of Ngāi Tahu. and Christchurch Girls' High School. Tui Uru was the great-aunt of rowers Jade and Storm Uru.

A soprano, Uru travelled to Australia to compete in 15 events at the 1953 City of Sydney Eisteddfod. She won the Dulcie Starkey Memorial Trophy for the overall winner of the adult ballad competitions.

In 1955, Uru went to London, where she studied singing with Roy Henderson and Dawson Freer, and funded her studies by working as a telephonist. In 1964, Uru returned to New Zealand, and was described at that time as a contralto. She covered the 1953–54 royal tour of New Zealand.

After working briefly in Palmerston North, Uru transferred to Dunedin, where she continued working as a radio presenter on the YA and YC stations, and as a continuity announcer for the local NZBC television station, DNTV2.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Christchurch Girls' High School

People in Tui Uru's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tui Uru's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tui Uru?

New Zealand opera singer

When was Tui Uru born?

Tui Uru was born on 20 January 1926 in Wellington.

When did Tui Uru die?

Tui Uru died on 26 April 2013 in Dunedin.

What was Tui Uru's occupation?

Tui Uru was an opera singer.

What nationality was Tui Uru?

Tui Uru was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tui Uru

· Wikidata: Q33100710

· DBpedia: Tui Uru

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tui Uru. https://biography.guide/tui-uru/

MLA: "Tui Uru." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tui-uru/.

Chicago: "Tui Uru." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tui-uru/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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