From a young age, Tinirau attended many whānau tangihangas, which has made him well aware of the different Tikanga within various iwi/whānau across Aotearoa. Those experiences led him to become a funeral director when he had the opportunity to help prepare his grandfather when he passed away. Tinirau’s many life experiences have shaped his values and personal beliefs and enabled him to help whānau through one of the most challenging times.