Merata Mita (19 June 1942 – 31 May 2010) was a New Zealand filmmaker, producer, and writer, and a key figure in the growth of the
Māori
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...
screen industry.
Early life
Mita was born on 19 June 1942 in
Maketu
Maketu is a small town on the Bay of Plenty Coast in New Zealand.
Maketu is located in the Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Maketu has an estuary from which the Kaituna River used to flow. It is also adjacent to Newdicks Beach located on t ...
in New Zealand's
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty ( mi, Te Moana-a-Toi) is a region of New Zealand, situated around a bight of the same name in the northern coast of the North Island. The bight stretches 260 km from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runawa ...
. She was the third of nine children and had a traditional rural Māori upbringing. She was from the Māori
iwi
Iwi () are the largest social units in New Zealand Māori society. In Māori roughly means "people" or "nation", and is often translated as "tribe", or "a confederation of tribes". The word is both singular and plural in the Māori language, an ...
of
Ngāti Pikiao
Ngāti Pikiao is a Māori iwi of New Zealand.
Te Arawa FM is the radio station of Te Arawa iwi, including Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Whakaue. It was established in the early 1980s and became a charitable entity in November 1990. The s ...
and
Ngāi Te Rangi
Ngāi Te Rangi or Ngāiterangi is a Māori iwi, based in Tauranga, New Zealand. Its rohe (tribal area) extends to Mayor Island / Tuhua and Bowentown in the north, to the Kaimai Range in the west, south of Te Puke and to Maketu in the east.
Ngāi ...
.
Filmmaking career
Mita taught at
Kawerau College for eight years, where she began using film and video to reach high school students characterised as "unteachable", many of them Māori and Pacific Islander.
She learned that the film and video equipment helped her students with their education as it was a form of oral storytelling, where they could express themselves through various art forms, such as drawing and image. This experience led to Mita's interest in filmmaking.
She initially started her filmmaking career by working with film crews as a liaison person, with her first documenta. Through these jobs, she discovered that foreign filmmakers had the access to tell the stories of Māori people, where she then decided to become a filmmaker herself. Mita started her technical education by having jobs as a sound assistant and a sound recordist. Over time, people started to take note of her contributions as part of the film crew. The experience eventually led her into a lengthy career in the film and television industry.
Later on, she moved to Hawaii in 1990 and taught documentary film making at the
University of Hawai'i-Manoa.
Mita was the first indigenous woman and the first woman in New Zealand to solely write and direct a dramatic feature film: ''Mauri'' (1988). Her filmmaking has been classified as "Fourth Cinema," a term that was made by New Zealand filmmaker,
Barry Barclay
Barry Ronald Barclay, New Zealand Order of Merit, MNZM (12 May 1944 – 19 February 2008) was a New Zealand filmmaker and writer of Māori people, Māori (Ngāti Apa) and Pākehā (European) descent.
Background
Barclay was born in Masterton and ra ...
. "Fourth Cinema" is described as indigenous cinema created by indigenous filmmakers for indigenous audiences.
Author Stephen Turner writes that the hill in Mita’s film ''Mauri'' (1988) “
..has filmic agency. I see it as a central figure and actor, and the vehicle for the “mauri” (the principle or force of life) of the film’s title
..Fourth Cinema is a medium through which things pass, enabling people and place to be recollected and connected in the viewing experience.”
Through her work, Mita aimed to make films that were about decolonisation and indigenisation. She made films that represented Māori people and their culture, which were specifically made for Māori audiences. These films were made as a way to encourage young Māori and indigenous filmmakers after viewing these films, which portrayed their people authentically.
In 1972, she was a co-director with
Ramai Te Miha Hayward of ''To Love A Māori'' (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 Point
Takaparawhau / Bastion Point is a coastal piece of land in Ōrākei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitematā Harbour. The area is significant in New Zealand history as the site of protests in the late 1970s by Māori against forced la ...
: Day 507'' (1980), about the eviction of
Ngāti Whātua
Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te ...
from their traditional land. ''Hotere'' (2001) documented the life and work of well-known Māori artist
Ralph Hotere
Hone Papita Raukura "Ralph" Hotere (11 August 1931 – 24 February 2013) was a New Zealand artist. He was born in Mitimiti, Northland and is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's most important artists. In 1994 he was awarded an honorary do ...
. She also directed the
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
''Waka'' for hip-hop artist
Che Fu
Che Kuo Eruera Ness (born 1974), better known by his stage name Che Fu, is a New Zealand hip hop, R&B and reggae artist, songwriter and producer. A founding member of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of ...
.
Acting
Mita played the role of 'Matu' in the New Zealand feature film ''
Utu
Utu (dUD "Sun"), also known under the Akkadian name Shamash, ''šmš'', syc, ܫܡܫܐ ''šemša'', he, שֶׁמֶשׁ ''šemeš'', ar, شمس ''šams'', Ashurian Aramaic: 𐣴𐣬𐣴 ''š'meš(ā)'' was the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. ...
'' (1983), which was directed by her husband
Geoff Murphy
Geoffrey Peter Murphy (12 October 1938 – 3 December 2018) was a New Zealand filmmaker, producer, director, and screenwriter best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the second half of the 1970s. His s ...
, starred
Anzac Wallace
Anzac Hohepa Wallace, also known as Zac Wallace, born Norman Pene Rewiri (1943 – 8 April 2019), was a New Zealand actor and former trade union delegate. He is best known for his role as Te Wheke in the 1983 New Zealand film '' Utu''.
Early life ...
, and featured veteran Māori actor
Wi Kuki Kaa
Wi Kuki Kaa (16 December 1938 – 19 February 2006) was a New Zealand actor in film, theatre and television. He was from the Māori iwi of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu.
Family
Kaa was born in Rangitukia on New Zealand's East Cape. His fa ...
. She also acted in ''The Protesters'', a teleplay written by
Rowley Habib
Rowley Habib (24 April 1933 – 3 April 2016), also known as Rore Hapipi, was a New Zealand poet, playwright, and writer of short stories and television scripts.
Biography
Of Lebanese and Māori descent, Habib identified with the Ngāti Tūw ...
.
Documentaries on Mita's work
In 1998, Mita was the subject of a documentary in the television series, ''Rangatira: Merata Mita – Making Waves'', directed by Hinewehi Mohi.
In October 2014,
NZ on Air
NZ On Air (NZOA; mi, Irirangi te Motu), formally the Broadcasting Commission, is an autonomous Crown entity and commission of the New Zealand Government responsible for funding support for broadcasting and creative works. The commission oper ...
announced funding for a biographical film, ''Te Taki A Merata Mita – How Mum Decolonised The Screen'', to be directed by her son Heperi Mita, for cinematic release and screening on
Māori Television
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
. On 28 November 2018, the documentary was accepted into the
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...
in their 2019 programme.
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 Indigenous Film Festival, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's consortium Pacific Islanders in Communications, and through her teaching at the
University of Hawai'i-Manoa. In 2016, the Merata Mita Fellowship was created by the
Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a non-profit organization founded by Robert Redford committed to the growth of independent artists. The institute is driven by its programs that discover and support independent filmmakers, theatre artists and composers f ...
for native or indigenous filmmakers globally at any stage of their career or production.
Recognition and awards
Some of Mita's recognition and awards included the Amiens International Film Festival's "MRAP Award" for her documentary, ''
Patu!'', in 1983,
Rimini Film Festival's "Best Film" for ''Mauri'' in 1989,
Flaherty Seminar's "Leo Dratfield Award for Commitment and Excellence in Documentary" in 1996, Taos Film Festival's "Mountain Award for excellence, commitment, and innovation" in 1999, the Te Waka Toi, part of the
Creative New Zealand
The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (Creative New Zealand) is the national arts development agency of the New Zealand government, investing in artists and arts organisations, offering capability building programmes and developing markets ...
Te Tohu Toi Ke – "Making a difference" Award (2009), and the
2010 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 2010 were announced on 31 December 2009 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Barbados, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Christopher and NevisSaint Christ ...
, when she was appointed a
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...
for her services to the film industry. Mita was also nominated for Asia Pacific Screen Awards' "Best Children's Feature Film" with Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis and Emanuel Michael, for the film, ''Boy'', in 2010, and for Aotearoa Film and Television Awards' "Best Director - Television Documentary" for ''Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata'' in 2011.
National Geographic All Roads Festival's "Merata Mita Award" is an annual award that recognizes a "Legacy of Outstanding Storytelling" was established in Mita's honour in 2010.
Personal life
Mita had seven children: Rafer, Richard, Rhys, Lars, Awatea, Eruera and Hepi. Her 4th son Lars died as an infant 2 weeks before his 1st birthday Her son Hepi Mita from her long time relationship with
Geoff Murphy
Geoffrey Peter Murphy (12 October 1938 – 3 December 2018) was a New Zealand filmmaker, producer, director, and screenwriter best known for his work during the renaissance of New Zealand cinema that began in the second half of the 1970s. His s ...
produced a documentary on his mother's cinematic legacy which was released in 2018.
Death
Mita died suddenly on 31 May 2010, after collapsing outside the studios of
Māori Television
Māori or Maori can refer to:
Relating to the Māori people
* Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group
* Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand
* Māori culture
* Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...
.
Works
Mita directed or collaborated on numerous films and television shows, including:
Films
*''The Hammer and the Anvil'' (1979) – Co-director, co-producer
*''Karanga Hokianga'' (1979) – Director, co-editor
*''Bastion Point: Day 507'' (1980) – Co-director, co-editor
*''Kinleith '80'' (1981) – Community liaison
*''Keskidee Aroha'' (1981) – Co-director, co-producer
*''The Bridge: A Story of Men in Dispute'' (1982) – Co-director, Sound
*
''Utu'' (1983) – Role: Matu, Cultural Advisor
*''
Patu!'' (1983) – Director, producer
*''Mauri'' (1988) – Director, writer, producer
*''
Mana Waka
''Mana Waka'' is a 1990 New Zealand film documenting the construction of waka for the 1940 centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi. It uses footage shot between 1937 and 1940 by R.G.H Manley, and edited 50 years later by Annie Collins and director Mer ...
'' (1990) – Director, sound designer, writer
*''The Shooting of Dominick Kaiwhata'' (1993) – Director, Producer
*''Dread'' (1996) – Director, writer
*''Te Paho'' (1997) – Director, writer
*''Hotere'' (2001) – Director, writer, producer
*''
The Land Has Eyes
''The Land Has Eyes'' ( Rotuman: ''Pear ta ma ʻon maf'') is a 2004 Rotuman film written and directed by Vilsoni Hereniko. It is the first ever (and so far only) feature film from Rotuma.
Plot
The main character, Viki ( Sapeta Taito), is a young ...
'' (2004) – Executive Producer
*''
Spooked'' (2004) – Producer, Second Unit Director, Role: Fred’s wife
*''
Boy
A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man.
Definition, etymology, and use
According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...
'' (2010) – Co-producer
*''Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata'' (2011)
– Director
*''Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen'' (2018) – Subject
Television shows
* ''Women - Māori Women in a Pākehā World (Episode Four)'' (1977) – Subject
* ''Karanga Hokianga ki o Tamariki'' (1979) – Director, producer
* ''Koha'' (1980-1981) – Director Producer
* ''Titiro Mai'' (1980-1985) – Presenter
* ''One of those Blighters'' (1982) – Role: Sue
* ''New Streets - South Auckland, Two Cities'' (1982) – Research
* ''Making Utu'' (1982) – Subject
* ''Loose Enz - The Protestors'' – Role: Ru
* ''New Streets - Auckland Fa’a-Samoa'' (1982) – Research
* ''Koha - Mauri'' (1987) – Subject
* ''Kaleidoscope - NZ Cinema, the Past Decade'' (1987) – Subject
* ''Koha - Nga Pikitia Māori'' (1987) – Subject
* ''Solidarity'' (1992) – Executive Producer
* ''Witi Ihimaera'' (1997) – Interviewer, Consultant Producer
* ''Rangatira: Merata Mita - Making Waves'' (1998) – Project Advisor, Subject
* ''The Magnificent Seven'' (1998) – Second Unit Director
* ''Frontseat - Series Two, Episode 10'' (2006) – Subject
* ''Kete Aronui - Merata Mita'' (2007) – Subject
* ''50 Years of New Zealand Television: 7 - Taonga TV'' (2010) – Subject
* ''50 Years of New Zealand Television: 2 - The Whole World’s Watching'' (2010) – Subject
* ''Taku Rākau e'' (2010) – Producer
* ''50 Years of New Zealand Television: 1 - From One Channel to One Hundred'' (2010) – Subject
* ''Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema'' (2016) – Subject
References
Further reading
* Lamche, Pascale; Mita, Merata (1984)
"Interview with Merata Mita" ''Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media'' (25): 2–11.
ISSN
An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs ...
0306-7661.
* Turner, Stephen (2013). "9. Reflections on Barry Barclay and Fourth Cinema". In Hokowhitu, Brendan; Devadas, Vijay (eds.). ''The Fourth Eye: Māori Media in Aotearoa New Zealand''. University of Minnesota Press. pp.162–178. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctt4cggdb.13.
External links
*Chloe Cull
Considering Merata Mita's Legacy in ''Love Feminisms'',
Enjoy Public Art Gallery
Enjoy Contemporary Art Space is a contemporary art space in Cuba Street arts area of Wellington, New Zealand.
Commonly known as 'Enjoy', the gallery was founded in 2000 by artists Ciaran Begley, Ros Cameron and Rachel Smithies as an artist-run ...
, 2015
*Brannavan Gnanalingam
A Magnificent Salvage: ''Mana Waka'' Lumiere Reader, 2011
Biography at NZ On ScreenWatch Patu clip at NZ On Screen*
Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen Film (Trailer) – 2018 at NZ On Screen*Sundance Institute
“Sundance Institute Announces New Merata Mita Fellowship For Indigenous Artists and 2016 Recipient.” 2016
*Alice Webb-Liddall
“Merata Mita: the godmother of indigenous film.”The Spinoff, May 2, 2021.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mita, Merata
1942 births
2010 deaths
Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Indigenous filmmakers in New Zealand
New Zealand film directors
New Zealand film producers
New Zealand Māori actresses
New Zealand Māori schoolteachers
New Zealand women film directors
Ngāti Pikiao people
Ngāi Te Rangi people
University of Hawaiʻi faculty
New Zealand women film producers
People from Maketu