Merata Mita died on 31 May 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering indigenous filmmaker and activist.
Merata Mita died on 31 May 2010 in Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 67, following complications from a heart attack. Her death was mourned across the international film community, with tributes pouring in from indigenous filmmakers, festivals, and institutions worldwide who recognized her as a foundational figure in Fourth World cinema.
At the time of her death, Mita remained an active mentor to emerging Māori and indigenous filmmakers, and she had recently been involved in supporting new voices through workshops and festival programs, including work connected to the Sundance Institute's efforts to support Native and indigenous filmmakers. Her son, filmmaker Heperoa Merata Mita, and other family members carried forward aspects of her creative legacy.
Her passing was marked by traditional Māori mourning rites (tangihanga), reflecting her deep embeddedness in Māori cultural and spiritual life even as she achieved international acclaim. In the years following her death, retrospectives of her work were held at major festivals, and the Merata Mita Fellowship was established at the Sundance Institute's Native American and Indigenous Program to support indigenous filmmakers, ensuring her influence continued to shape the next generations of storytellers from indigenous communities around the world.