Singing

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]

In 1955, Uru went to London, where she studied singing with Roy Henderson and Dawson Freer, and funded her studies by working as a telephonist.^[1] She performed in a concert at Wigmore Hall and as a soloist at Westminster Central Hall.^[13] In 1964, Uru returned to New Zealand, and was described at that time as a contralto.^[13]

Broadcasting

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]