Background
Campbell was born in Rarotonga and spent his childhood on Penrhyn island, the home of his mother, Teu Bosini. His father's name was Jock Campbell. In 1932, when Campbell was seven, his mother died from tuberculosis. The following year, his father also died and he was sent with his two brothers to an orphanage in Dunedin, on New Zealand's South Island.
He lived most of his life in New Zealand, mainly around the Wellington region, and for several decades in Pukerua Bay, Porirua.
Born Alistair Campbell, he later added 'Te Ariki' after going back to the Cook Islands and discovering his grandfather had ties to chiefdom. In his grandfather's honour, Campbell added Te Ariki (the chief) to his name.
His first wife was poet, Fleur Adcock, from whom he was later divorced. His second wife, Aline Margaret (Meg) Anderson, was also a poet.
Alistair had a total of 5 children, two with Fleur and the other three with Meg.