Tamu was born Leilani Leafaitulagi Grace Burgoyne in Auckland and is of Samoan, Tongan, Scottish and German descent.
[5] For several years, Tamu worked as a diplomat for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including postings to Tonga (2010–2012) and Australia.
[10] Poetry by Tamu was included in UPU, a curation of Pacific Island writers’ work which was first presented at the Silo Theatre as part of the Auckland Arts Festival in March 2020.
[12] Tamu was placed 17th on the Green Party's list to contest the 2017 New Zealand general election, and ran for the New Lynn electorate.
In 2013 Tamu received Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.