Teka was from Ruatahuna in the Ureweras, and had a musical childhood. His mother played mouth organ and clarinet and his father was a saxophonist with a bush band. After learning guitar and saxophone at woolshed dances with teenage bands, Teka moved to Sydney and began a six-year stand with the Maori Volcanics showband on the Japan and Pacific circuit. The ‘Prince’ title was adopted when Teka joined the Maori Troubadours.
In the 1970s Teka performed solo in Sydney and Southeast Asian clubs, his extravagant stage wardrobe including rhinestone jackets and embroidered skirts cut for his one hundred and forty kilogram frame.
By 1981 he had returned to Tokomaru Bay, and became a household name during the next year with ‘E Ipo’, and two albums with Teka originals including ‘Real Love’ and ‘Oh Mum’. He appeared in films, including ‘Came A Hot Friday’ and ‘Savage Islands’.
Prince Tui Teka passed away in the mid-eighties.
