Inia Te Wiata was born on June 10, 1915 in Ōtaki, New Zealand. He began singing at age seven and studied at Trinity College of Music in London starting in 1947. Te Wiata joined the Covent Garden Opera Company, performing "Gloriana," written for him by Benjamin Britten. He also appeared in films like Man of the Moment (1955). In 1966, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Te Wiata died on June 26, 1971, in London from pancreatic cancer and his ashes were returned to New Zealand.
