Enlisted 1 July 1916 and disembarked at Suez on 27 December 1916. Joined the Rarotongan Company on 7 April 1917 and on 11 October 1917 he was detached to the 97th Heavy Battery Royal Artillery until 9 November 1917. When on leave in Cairo on 26 May 1918, he accidentally injured his head and was in 27th General Hospital until 3 June 1918. Admitted to 129th Field Hospital with Malaria on 12 August 1918, was moved to the 24th Stationary Hospital on 3 September 1918 and then to the 27th General Hospital on 5 September 1918. Embarked for New Zealand on SS Malta on 14 December 1918 and discharged on 20 March 1919.

In April 2019, Oirua Rasmussen messaged our Facebook page and confirmed that Tau Varovaro’s grave in Penrhyn is unmarked with no military headstone or private memorial. Oirua Rasmussen shared that he was one of the Boys Brigade company of Penrhyn who gave him a military send off at his burial service