Mita Taupopoki ( – 14 January 1935) was a notable MÃÂori tribal leader of New Zealand. He identified with NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao, a hapà « (subtribe) of the Tà «hourangi iwi of Te Arawa.
He was born near Lake Rotorua, New Zealand, probably in 1845 or 1846. His father, HÃÂmana Te Whareiro of NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao, lived mostly at Whakarewarewa. His mother, Kanea II, was of Tà «hourangi, and the NgÃÂti Tà «nohopà « hapà « of NgÃÂti Whakaue. In 1864 Mita joined other Te Arawa who fought for the government in the wars of the 1860s. He returned to Whakarewarewa in 1874. In 1883 he represented several hapà « of NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao in the Native Land Court in a case relating to land claimed by NgÃÂti Whakaue, including Whakarewarewa, and succeeded in claims to the land on the east side of the Puarenga Stream at Whakarewarewa, although other land was won by NgÃÂti Whakaue. His success in the land court contributed to a recognition of his leadership among the wider Tà «hourangi, in addition to within NgÃÂti WÃÂhiao. The 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera killed many Tà «hourangi, and survivors took refuge with Mita and his people at Whakarewarewa and à Âhinemutu. Mita continued to act in the Native Land Court, representing Tà «hourangi, and in 1887 won recognition of their claims of the 211,000-acre RotomahanaâÂÂParekÃÂrangi block. In 1910 he toured Australia, England and the United States with Maggie Papakura's cultural group. He died in hospital in Rotorua on 14 January 1935.