Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tamarua is of Maori and Cook Island descent.
[2] In 2017 Tamarua took time away from refereeing to concentrate on running her own restaurant but returned to the sport in 2018.
In August 2022 she became the first New Zealand woman to referee a match in the NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW).
[1] Tamarua was one of only two NZRL referees selected for the officials team at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.
[4] Her first world cup appearance will be as a touch judge in the match between Wales and Cook Islands on 18 October 2022.