[2] From 1978 he was on the staff of the University of Waikato becoming an Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Māori and Pacific Development.
[2][3] In the last two decades of his life his musical interests extended to a fascination with traditional Maori instruments (ngā taonga pūoro).
[1] Many Melbourne songs have been performed by other New Zealand musicians including Hinewehi Mohi, Moana Maniapoto, the Topp Twins and Mere Boynton.
[3] Melbourne was a member of the Nga Tamatoa protest group and many of his waiata were written as vehicles for ideals he was passionate about, most notably "Ngā Iwi E", composed for the New Zealand contingent heading to the 1984 Festival of Pacific Arts (cancelled after political unrest in New Caledonia).
[13] He was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2003 New Year Honours, for services to Māori language, music and culture,[14] just before his death a week later.