Muru Walters

Muru Walters (16 January 1935 – 14 February 2024) was a New Zealand author, master carver, broadcaster, artist, rugby union player and Māori Anglican bishop.^[1] He was the first Pīhopa (bishop) of Te Pīhopatanga o Te Upoko o Te Ika from his consecration on 7 March 1992 until his retirement in 2018.^[2]

The Right Reverend Muru Walters
Te Pīhopa o Te Upoko o Te Ika
Walters in 2012
Province	Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Diocese	Te Pīhopatanga o Te Upoko o Te Ika
Installed	7 March 1992
Term ended	2018
Predecessor	New diocese
Successor	Wai Quayle
Personal details
Born	(1935-01-16)16 January 1935 Kaitaia, New Zealand
Died	14 February 2024(2024-02-14) (aged 89) Mangawhai, New Zealand
Denomination	Anglicanism
Alma mater	Auckland Teachers' College University of Otago
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fullback Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1955–1963 North Auckland () 1965 Poverty Bay 6 (31) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1956–1963 New Zealand Māori (211)

Biography

Muru Walters was born in Kaitaia.^[3] He affiliated to the Te Rarawa and Te Aupōuri iwi.^[1] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] He was later a lecturer in Māori Studies at St John's Theological College in Auckland.^[3] In October 2020, Walters was made a Life Fellow of Selwyn College Dunedin.^[6]

Walters died at his home in Mangawhai on 14 February 2024, at the age of 89.^[7][8]