Tikirau Hathaway, a proud New Zealand Maori of Tuhoe descent, was born in Masterton, New Zealand in 1997. His early education took place in Wellington, where he attended Kohanga Reo, a Te Reo Maori pre-school, and began his formal schooling at the age of five at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Mokopuna, a Te Reo Maori immersion primary and secondary school.
At the tender age of six, Tikirau relocated to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, where he has since grown up surrounded by the radio, television, and film industries. His involvement in the industry began at the remarkably young age of ten, when he started working as a fill-in camera operator.
Tikirau's passion for performing has led him to take the stage with his band and his college's kapahaka group, which is a traditional Maori performing arts troupe. His school has won both divisions of the regional competition for the past two years, showcasing Tikirau's impressive skills.
What sets Tikirau apart is his unique educational background, having attended only Te Reo Maori total immersion language education providers. This has granted him the remarkable ability to speak two languages fluently, providing him with double the opportunities in his personal and professional life.
