Merata Mita
Encyclopedia
Merata Mita, CNZM
(19 June 1942 – 31 May 2010) was a significant filmmaker in New Zealand
as well as a key figure in the growth of the Māori screen industry. Mita was from the Māori tribes of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāi Te Rangi.
region of New Zealand's North Island. She was the third eldest of nine children and had a traditional rural Māori upbringing. She taught at Kawerau College for eight years, where she began using film and video to reach "unteachable" high school students, many of them Māori. The experience eventually led her into a lengthy career in the film and television industry. She was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the New Year Honours 2010, for services to the film industry.
:Day 507' (1980) about the eviction of Ngāti Whātua
from their traditional land. 'Hotere' (2001) documented the life and work of well-known Māori artist Ralph Hotere
. She also directed the music video
'Waka' for hip hop artist Che Fu
.
directed by her husband Geoff Murphy
, starring Anzac Wallace and featuring veteran Māori actor Wi Kuki Kaa
. She also acted in the television adaptation of 'The Protesters' written by Rowley Habib.
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(19 June 1942 – 31 May 2010) was a significant filmmaker 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...
as well as a key figure in the growth of the Māori screen industry. Mita was from the Māori tribes of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāi Te Rangi.
Background
Mita was born in Maketu in the Bay of PlentyBay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
region of New Zealand's North Island. She was the third eldest of nine children and had a traditional rural Māori upbringing. She taught at Kawerau College for eight years, where she began using film and video to reach "unteachable" high school students, many of them Māori. The experience eventually led her into a lengthy career in the film and television industry. She was appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the New Year Honours 2010, for services to the film industry.
Films
Mita was the first indigenous woman and the first woman in Aotearoa New Zealand to solely write and direct a dramatic feature film, Mauri (1988) [notwithstanding Ramai Te Miha Hayward's co-direction of "To Love A Maori" (1972)]. An accomplished documentary director and producer for more than 25 years, Mita made landmark documentary films such as Patu! (1983) about the violent clashes between anti-apartheid protesters and the police during the controversial 1981 South African Springboks rugby tours in New Zealand. and 'Bastion PointBastion Point
Bastion Point is a coastal piece of land in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. The area has significance in New Zealand history for its role in 1970s Māori protests against forced land alienation by non Māori New Zealanders.-History:The land was occupied by Ngāti...
:Day 507' (1980) about the eviction of Ngāti Whātua
Ngati Whatua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi of New Zealand. It consists of four hapu : Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te Taoū, and Ngāti Whātua-o-Ōrākei....
from their traditional land. 'Hotere' (2001) documented the life and work of well-known Māori artist Ralph Hotere
Ralph Hotere
Hone Papita Raukura "Ralph" Hotere is a New Zealand artist of Māori descent . He was born in Mitimiti, Northland and He is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most important living artists...
. She also directed the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
'Waka' for hip hop artist Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
.
Actress
Mita played the role of 'Matu' in the New Zealand feature film UtuUtu (film)
Utu is a 1983 New Zealand movie directed by Geoff Murphy. It starred Anzac Wallace. Utu was reputed to have one of the largest budgets for a New Zealand film at the time...
directed by her husband Geoff Murphy
Geoff Murphy
Geoff Murphy is a successful New Zealand filmmaker best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the last half of the 1970s....
, starring Anzac Wallace and featuring veteran Māori actor Wi Kuki Kaa
Wi Kuki Kaa
Wi Kuki Kaa was an acclaimed New Zealand actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Maori tribes of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.-Biography:...
. She also acted in the television adaptation of 'The Protesters' written by Rowley Habib.
Documentary on Mita's work
In 1998, Mita herself became the subject of a documentary in the television series 'Rangatira: Merata Mita – Making Waves,' directed by Hinewehi Mohi.International Influence
Mita's influence among indigenous filmmakers internationally was considerable, through film organizations and film festivals in which she mentored such as the Sundance Film Festival's Native Film Initiative, the National Geographic All Roads Indigneous Film Festival, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's consortium Pacific Islanders in Communications, and through her teaching at the University of Hawai'i, Manoa.Death
Mita died suddenly on 31 May 2010, after collapsing outside the studios of Māori TelevisionMaori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
.
Works
Mita directed or collaborated on numerous films including:- Hotere (2001)
- Dread (1996)
- The Shooting of Dominick Kaiwhata (1993)
- Mana Waka (1990)
- Mauri (1988)
- Patu! (1983)
- The Bridge: A Story of Men in Dispute (1982)
- Bastion Point: Day 507 (1980)
- Keskidee Aroha (1980)
- Karanga Hokianga Ki O Tamariki (1979)
- The Hammer and the Anvil (1979)