Tama Te Kapua Poata (3 April 1936 – 9 November 2005)[1] was a New Zealand writer, actor, humanitarian and activist.
Poata wrote the screenplay for the feature film Ngati (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.
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 Lawrence.
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)[5] the organisation which led and mobilised anti-apartheid protests trying to stop the South African rugby union team touring in New Zealand.