Maori Party farewell celebrated film maker

“Merata was a film maker who could see things that others couldn't,” says Maori Party broadcasting spokesperson Hone Harawira in response to the passing of film legened Merata Mita from Ngati Pikiao and Nga Te Rangi.

“She was Nga Tamatoa when most Maori were too scared to even think of protesting. She was a pioneer in contemporary film making and a visionary in the industry. She was the only one with the guts and the vision to be at Bastion Point to record the events of the day – a documentary which she titled Day 506,” Mr Harawira said.

“And of the many, many film makers and documentary makers around the country, nobody got the inside scoops on the Springbok Tour in 1981 like she did.

“And she was intelligent enough to send all of her stuff to Australia because she knew the cops here would bust her to try to use her footage to convict us.

“She saw it coming and got interviews and footage months in advance. Because of her history and her mana, she got into places and got shots that no-one else could ever have possibly filmed.

“Merata Mita was a legend, and I already miss her.”

Merata made documentaries on artist Ralph Hotere, rastafarians in Ruatoria (The Dread) and judicial injustice (The Shooting of Dominick Kaiwhata, 1993). She also helped produce produce the film Boy.

She also directed the video for Che Fu's Waka, which won the Music Video of the Year Award at the 1999 Hawaii Music Awards.

ENDS

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