Muru Walters

Muru Walters was a New Zealand author, master carver, broadcaster, artist, rugby union player and Māori Anglican bishop. He was the first Pīhopa of Te Pīhopatanga o Te Upoko o Te Ika from his consecration on 7 March 1992 until his retirement in 2018.

Biography

Muru Walters was born in Kaitaia. He affiliated to the Te Rarawa and Te Aupōuri iwi. A talented rugby player, Walters represented New Zealand Māori, and won the Tom French Cup for the Māori rugby union player of the year in 1957. He studied at Auckland Teachers' College. After working in arts and crafts education in schools, he became a lecturer in art at Dunedin Teachers' College. In 1980, Walters completed a master's degree on Māori archaeology at the University of Otago. He was later a lecturer in Māori Studies at St John's Theological College in Auckland. In October 2020, Walters was made a Life Fellow of Selwyn College Dunedin.
Walters died at his home in Mangawhai on 14 February 2024, at the age of 89.