Wikipedia

Merata Mita

Merata Mita CNZM (19 June 1942 – 31 May 2010) was a New Zealand filmmaker, producer, and writer, and a key figure in the growth of the Māori screen industry.

Early life edit

Mita was born on 19 June 1942 in Maketu in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. She was the third of nine children and had a traditional rural Māori upbringing. She was from the Māori iwi of Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāi Te Rangi.[1]

Filmmaking career edit

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.[1][2] 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.[1][2] 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.[3] The experience eventually led her into a lengthy career in the film and television industry.[1] Later on, she moved to Hawaii in 1990 and taught documentary film making at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.[4]

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. "Fourth Cinema" is described as indigenous cinema created by indigenous filmmakers for indigenous audiences.[5] 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."[5] Through her work, Mita aimed to make films that were about decolonisation and indigenisation.[6] 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.[2][7] In 1972, she was a co-director with Ramai Te Miha Hayward of To Love A Māori (1972).[8] 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: 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.[9]

Acting edit

Mita played the role of 'Matu' in the New Zealand feature film Utu (1983), which was directed by her husband Geoff Murphy, starred Anzac Wallace, and featured veteran Māori actor Wi Kuki Kaa.[10] She also acted in The Protesters, a teleplay written by Rowley Habib.[11]

Documentaries on Mita's work edit

In 1998, Mita was the subject of a documentary in the television series, Rangatira: Merata Mita – Making Waves, directed by Hinewehi Mohi.[12]

In October 2014, NZ on Air 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.[13][14] On 28 November 2018, the documentary was accepted into the Sundance Film Festival in their 2019 programme.[15]

International influence edit

Mita's influence among indigenous filmmakers internationally was considerable, through film organisations 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 Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.[16] In 2016, the Merata Mita Fellowship was created by the Sundance Institute for native or indigenous filmmakers globally at any stage of their career or production.[17]

Recognition and awards edit

Some of Mita's recognition and awards included the Amiens International Film Festival's "MRAP Award" for her documentary, Patu!, in 1983,[18] Rimini Film Festival's "Best Film" for Mauri in 1989,[18] Flaherty Seminar's "Leo Dratfield Award for Commitment and Excellence in Documentary" in 1996,[19] Taos Film Festival's "Mountain Award for excellence, commitment, and innovation" in 1999,[20] the Te Waka Toi, part of the Creative New Zealand Te Tohu Toi Ke – "Making a difference" Award (2009),[21] and the 2010 New Year Honours, when she was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the film industry.[22][23] 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.[18] National Geographic All Roads Festival's "Merata Mita Award" is an annual award that recognises a "Legacy of Outstanding Storytelling" was established in Mita's honour in 2010.[18]

Personal life edit

Mita had seven children: Rafer, Richard, Rhys, Lars, Awatea, Eruera and Hepi. Her fourth son, Lars, died as an infant at the age of 11 months.[24][25] Her son Hepi Mita from her longtime relationship with Geoff Murphy produced a documentary on his mother's cinematic legacy which was released in 2018.[26]

Death edit

Mita died suddenly on 31 May 2010, after collapsing outside the studios of Māori Television.[27]

Works edit

Mita directed or collaborated on numerous films and television shows,[28][29] including:

Films edit

  • 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 (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 (2004) – Executive Producer
  • Spooked (2004) – Producer, Second Unit Director, Role: Fred’s wife
  • Boy (2010) – Co-producer
  • Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata (2011)[30] – Director
  • Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen (2018) – Subject

Television shows edit

  • 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 edit

  1. ^ a b c d Screen, NZ On. "Merata Mita | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c LAMCHE, PASCALE; MITA, MERATA (1984). "Interview with Merata Mita". Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media (25): 3. ISSN 0306-7661. JSTOR 44111027.
  3. ^ MERATA MITA INTERVIEW PT. 1, retrieved 6 December 2021
  4. ^ Aitken, Ian (2012). Documentary film. Routledge. ISBN 9780415579018. OCLC 775271646.
  5. ^ a b 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. 166–167.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ MERATA MITA INTERVIEW PT. 3, retrieved 6 December 2021
  7. ^ MERATA MITA INTERVIEW PT. 2, retrieved 6 December 2021
  8. ^ Peters, G. (2007). "Lives of their own: Films by Merata Mita". In I. Conrich and S. Murray (Eds.), New Zealand Filmmakers (pp. 103–120). Detroit: Wayne State University Press.
  9. ^ "Che Fu "Waka"". 5000 Ways to Love You. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Utu". NZonScreen. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Loose Enz - The Protesters". NZonScreen. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  12. ^ "A documentary about pioneering Māori filmmaker Merata Mita whose career has spanned 20 years and whose films represent a unique account of New Zealand social and political history." Profile Archived 11 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, filmarchive.org.nz; accessed 6 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Mita's life to be celebrated on film". 2 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  14. ^ "Three new documentaries funded for screens big and small". NZ On Air. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  15. ^ "2019 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL: 112 FEATURES ANNOUNCED". Sundance Institute. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Tribute: Merata Mita". The Big Idea. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Sundance Institute Announces New Merata Mita Fellowship For Indigenous Artists and 2016 Recipient – sundance.org". Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d Screen, NZ On. "Merata Mita | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  19. ^ Aitken, Ian (2012). Documentary film. Routledge. ISBN 9780415579018. OCLC 775271646.
  20. ^ Aitken, Ian (2012). Documentary film. Routledge. ISBN 9780415579018. OCLC 775271646.
  21. ^ "Creative New Zealand, Te Waka Toi Awards".
  22. ^ "He poroporoaki kia Merata Mita (Tribute to Merata Mita)". Creative New Zealand. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  23. ^ "New Year Honours 2010". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  24. ^ Hepi Mita: Merata — a son’s tribute. e-tangata.co.nz, 12 May 2019.
  25. ^ John Gillies: Telling their mother’s story. gisborneherald.co.nz, 12 May 2019.
  26. ^ Webb-Liddall, Alice (2 May 2019). "Merata Mita: the godmother of indigenous film". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Pioneering Kiwi filmmaker Merata Mita dies". 3 News. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  28. ^ "1981 Shooting Back". Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  29. ^ Screen, NZ On. "Merata Mita | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Special Screenings of Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata". Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 5 November 2017.

Further reading edit

External links edit

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