Tim Waitai-Tipene, (Ngati Kuri/Ngati Whatua), was adopted into the Waitai-Tipene whanau as a toddler. He was raised in two cultures, NZ Maori and NZ European. Tim's immediate family were abusive and violent. His biological father was a convicted predator and violent offender who spent much of life behind bars.

Expelled from high school Tim went through a number of jobs, homes and relationships before he managed to find help to address his past.

Through a combination of Martial Arts training, Psychotherapy and personal development, Tim overcame his abusive and violent childhood and broke the cycle. At 17 he started community work and has spent his life transforming the lives of others.

In 1994 at the age of 22, Tim was unemployed and had no fixed abode. He was frustrated at the lack of support for survivors of child abuse, and so without any formal qualifications other than a Black Belt 2nd Dan, and without funding, Tim consolidated his learning and experience and created Kura Toa Warrior School, and his own form of personal development and therapeutic Warrior Training.

For 27 years Tim has provided his renowned Warrior Kids programme to communities and schools, taking referrals from community and government agencies, and changing the lives of thousands of children and their families.

Tim is now an award-winning author and an inspirational speaker. He started martial arts at the age of 12 and over 35 years has gained a number of Black Belt Dan ranks and teaching titles. 

In 2013 Tim was inducted into the New Zealand Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

In 2014 Tim was recognised as a Kiwibank New Zealander of the year Local Hero and received a Medal for his contribution to the lives of others.

Tim has also been an advocate for adults with special needs, a self-defence instructor for women and a facilitator of Anger Management and Living Without Violence programs for men.

Tim has featured on television, radio and in various magazines and newspapers.

'Now he, (Tim), has written a memoir, White Moko, subtitled Stories from my Life, which gives some of the personal background to common themes running through his work: dealing with violence and abuse, and fighting to achieve goals, such as gaining self-respect and a sense of purpose in life. All of this is a remarkable achievement. It becomes amazing when measured against his early life, described in White Moko. The very fact that Tim Tipene is alive today is amazing. Every event in his young life seemed to destine him for drugs, despair and suicide.' - Trevor Agnew, Magpies Magazine NZ