mˈeɪnɪɐpˈoʊɾoʊ wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn ɪnvˈɜːkɑːɹɡˌɪl, nˈuː zˈiːlənd, ænd ɐtˈɛndᵻd sənt dʒˈoʊsəfz mˈaʊɹi ɡˈɜːlz kˈɑːlɪdʒ ɪn nˈeɪpiɚ.
Maniapoto was born in Invercargill, New Zealand, and attended St Joseph's Māori Girls' College in Napier.