Tetera Faulkner currently represents the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. His regular playing position is prop.
Faulkner was born in Tauranga, New Zealand and lived his early years at Te Puna in the Bay of Plenty. At 12 years of age, he moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia. He played his junior rugby at Moorabbin Rams and played age-group representative rugby for Victoria. Faulkner attended Cheltenham Secondary College in Melbourne before transferring to Marist College Canberra. He played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2006.
Faulkner represented Australia at the IRB Under 19 Rugby World Championship in Ireland in 2007. He represented Australia at Under 20 level at the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in Wales in 2008