Toby Curtis was born on November 13, 1939 in Rotoehu, New Zealand. He was an actor, known for Once Were Warriors (1994) and To Love a Maori (1972). He died on August 17, 2022 in Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand.
In the 1980s he served as principal of Hato Petera College and then became vice-principal of Auckland's Teachers College.
In the 1990s he became Director of Primary Education at the Auckland College of Education, before becoming faculty dean and deputy vice-chancellor at AUT.
Received an education at St Michael's College (Rotorua) and St Peter's Maori College (Auckand) before heading to Ardmore Teachers' College and the University of Auckland. He graduated with a Diploma of Teaching in 1972, and then with a Master of Arts degree in 1980.
In 2012 he was appointed chair of Iwi Education Authority for Nga Kura a Iwi o Aotearoa, which represents Maori language immersion schools.
Was the chair of the Maori broadcasting advisory committee, which led to Aotearoa Radio, iwi radio stations and Whakaata Maori. He served as chair Te Mangai Paho in 1997.