Marae - Aurere (Merata Mita)

I can remember when I was forced to present Koha; forced by default of there being no presenters. And the criticism of Māori men about the fact that I was a woman on a marae, i.e. the marae that is Koha...

– Merata Mita recalls criticisms she faced in the early 1980s when she presented Māori TV show Koha

We have the stories to tell, brilliant stories to tell that have never appeared on the screen and never will — unless we're making the films and telling the stories.

– Filmmaker Merata Mita in an archival clip featured early in this report

I remember her laughing, and being very, very firm at the same time.

– Sundance Institute director Bird Runningwater on how Merata Mita should be remembered

Merata always wanted to go back to Maketu and she always had strong ties there, and it was a beautiful tangi. It was a beautiful day to send her off.

– Producer Hineani Melbourne on Merata Mita's tangi in Maketu, the Bay of Plenty town where she was born

...today you look at the potency of her work, you feel as the audience that you are almost participating in the struggle which she captured with her lens.

– Tearepa Kahi, filmmaker and chair of Māori screen organisation Ngā Aho Whakaari, on Merata Mita's work