Tuari affiliates to and is a member of six of the seven papatipu rūnaka in the Otago/Southland region; Ōtākou, Puketeraki, Awarua, Waihopai, Hokonui and Oraka/Aparima.

Tuari has been extensively involved in the Māori health, mental health, education and justice sectors for more than 25 years. He has worked in a number of different roles as a Māori alcohol and drug clinician and tutor before moving into management roles in both the public and non-government sectors.

From 1994 to 1997 Tuari managed the Taha Māori programme at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs before moving to the Community AOD Service in Christchurch where he helped establish a Whānau Clinic for Māori clients and a Māori Methadone programme.

Tuari also has extensive governance experience and was recently appointed to the Whānau Ora Independent Reference Group. He has also served terms on the boards of the Southern District Health Board, Canterbury District Health Board, the Canterbury Community Trust and Ngāi Tahu’s Health and Social Service agency He Oranga Pounamu. He was also the Senior Māori Advisor to the National Addiction Centre which sits within the University of Otago. Tuari is currently the Director of Māori Development, at Otago University. Before that, he was based in Wellington as General Manager of Strategic Operations for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC).