Te Tai was born in Rotorua and attended Malfroy Primary School, Rotorua Intermediate School, and Rotorua Girls’ High School. She continued her studies at the University of Auckland where she graduated BA/LLB. Te Tai was involved with the setting up of the first Māori Women’s refuge in Auckland. She works as a tutor.
Biographical sources
- Phone conversation and correspondence with Te Tai McNeill, 5 and 13 Oct. 2004.
Non-fiction
- "Māori women in refuge." Broadsheet 181 (1990): 15-19.
- Te Tai McNeill discusses with Roma Balzer, past National Māori Coordinator of Women’s Refuge in Aotearoa, issues arising out of a national hui for Māori women in the refuge movement which was held in Rotorua in 1986.