Tuavera was born in Matavera on Rarotonga.[2] He was educated at Tereora College and at Rutherford High School in Auckland.[2] He dropped out of school, and after working a variety of jobs joined the New Zealand Army in 1976 at the age of 17.[2] He served as a rifleman and instructor, and was posted in Singapore. After being medically discharged in 1991, he returned to Rarotonga, where he married and started a tourism business.[2]
Tuavera was first elected to Parliament in the 2014 Cook Islands general election. In 2015, he was appointed opposition spokesperson for Police, Marine Resources and Culture.[3] His re-election at the 2018 election was challenged on the basis of alleged bribery, but the electoral petition was unsuccessful.[4] In February 2020 he was appointed Democratic Party spokesperson for Police and Marine Resources.[5]
In 2017 he saved the lives of three children on holiday who were swept away while swimming.[6]