Tama Poata
Encyclopedia
Tama Te Kapua Poata was a New Zealand
writer, actor, humanitarian and activist. He was from the Māori tribe of Ngati Porou
. He was also known as 'Tom,' the transliteration of 'Tama.'
during the 1960s where he worked for the Drivers Union.
(1987), directed by Barry Barclay
and produced by John O'Shea
. Ngati was the first film written and directed by Māori, and is of historical and cultural significance in New Zealand.
.
He was instrumental in organising the historic 1975 Land March to the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, voicing Māori indigenous land rights and protection of their culture. He was also active in the anti-apartheid movement in New Zealand against South Africa and is credited with having coined the name Halt All Racist Tours
(HART) the organisation which led and mobilised anti-apartheid protests trying to stop the South African rugby union team touring in New Zealand.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
writer, actor, humanitarian and activist. He was from the Māori tribe of Ngati Porou
Ngati Porou
Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...
. He was also known as 'Tom,' the transliteration of 'Tama.'
Background
Poata was born on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island. He was educated at Tokomaru Bay High School. He lived in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
during the 1960s where he worked for the Drivers Union.
Films
Poata wrote the screenplay for the feature film NgatiNgati
Ngati is a 1987 New Zealand feature film directed by Barry Barclay, written by Tama Poata and produced by John O'Shea.-Production:Ngati is of historical and cultural significance in New Zealand as it is the first feature film written and directed by Māori. Producer John O'Shea, an icon in New...
(1987), directed by Barry Barclay
Barry Barclay
Barry Barclay, MNZM was a New Zealand filmmaker and writer of Maori and Pākehā descent.-Background:...
and produced by John O'Shea
John O'Shea (director)
John Dempsey O'Shea was a New Zealand independent filmmaker; he was a director, producer, writer and actor.He was active from 1940 to 1970, and in 1952 set up Pacific Films in Wellington with Roger Mirams...
. Ngati was the first film written and directed by Māori, and is of historical and cultural significance in New Zealand.
Actor
Poata played the role of 'Sam' in 'Wild Horses' (1984) a New Zealand western directed by Derek Morton, produced by John Barnett and starring Bruno LawrenceBruno Lawrence
Bruno Lawrence was a New Zealand musician and actor.Initially notable as founder of 1970s musical and theatrical "Blerta", he had well-regarded roles in several major films, and starred on the 1990s Australian satirical TV series Frontline.-Biography:Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West...
.
Human Rights
Poata was a founding member and the secretary of the Māori Organisation on Human Rights (MOOHR) which took part in protests for Māori rights and also opposed New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War.He was instrumental in organising the historic 1975 Land March to the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, voicing Māori indigenous land rights and protection of their culture. He was also active in the anti-apartheid movement in New Zealand against South Africa and is credited with having coined the name Halt All Racist Tours
Halt All Racist Tours
Halt All Racist Tours was a protest group set up in New Zealand in 1969 to protest against rugby union tours to and from South Africa.-Chronology:...
(HART) the organisation which led and mobilised anti-apartheid protests trying to stop the South African rugby union team touring in New Zealand.