From at least 1943, Uru was singing publicly. That year she appeared in a concert at the Civic Theatre in Christchurch, where she gave a solo performance of "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere".[9]
A soprano,[10] Uru travelled to Australia to compete in 15 events at the 1953 City of Sydney Eisteddfod.[4][6] In all, she won 11 categories, including the section for singing folk songs of any country, and was second in a further two sections.[1][11] She won the Dulcie Starkey Memorial Trophy for the overall winner of the adult ballad competitions.[4] The judge, Gregory Stroud, described Uru as having "a voice of fine quality" and a "charming personality".[4] She also competed in The Sun aria contest in Ballarat in 1953, finishing fourth equal.[12]
Uru applied for a job as a radio announcer with the New Zealand Broadcasting Service in 1945, and was appointed to a position in Christchurch in 1950.[1][4][6] She covered the 1953–54 royal tour of New Zealand.[1] After her return to New Zealand from London, Uru joined New Zealand Broadcasting's (NZBC) Christchurch television station, CHTV3, as a continuity announcer, becoming the first Māori television presenter in October 1964.[1][14]
After working briefly in Palmerston North, Uru transferred to Dunedin, where she continued working as a radio presenter on the YA and YC stations, and as a continuity announcer for the local NZBC television station, DNTV2.[1] She later moved to private radio station Radio Otago 4XO.[1]
Later life and death
Uru lived in retirement in Dunedin. She died there on 26 April 2013,[1][2] and was buried at Dunedin Cemetery.[15]