A tribute to Merata Mita

Tu Tangata, Issue 21, 1 December 1984, Page 42

A tribute to Merata Mita

by Te Paki Cherrington

The Mangere Festival 1984 from September 21 September 30th had many notable happenings. For me however the three films by this remarkable woman film maker were the highlights. She has a depth of perception, intelligence, courage, and honesty which has already confirmed her place in the history of New Zealand film making.

Three films were shown on successive nights. “Men in Dispute” the Mangere Bridge dispute, “Bastion Pont tion Point and “Patu" the 1981 Springbok Tour. Each film made me belly laugh and then dropped me into the depth of sadness and tears. The reality she exposed was frightening and horrifying yet uplifting at the same time. Uplifting in the sense that I feel that in some way her films would help to effect changes in attitude, and this made me hope and feel optimistic.

I have seen “Bastion Point’’ many times yet it still grabbed at my gut. It made me cry for Aunty Hope who did not live to hear the encouraging sounds of a return of the land to the people of Ngati Whatua. It made me cry, remembering the pain and anguish, the horrifying misuse of power by a state and government little changed today from the time of Te Whiti and Tohu, the senseless brutality of the military and the law enforcement officers. In a sense the somewhat muted violence of the Bastion Point film was a rehearsal for the raw obscene violence by the law in the Springbok Tour film.

“Men in Dispute’’ made from the point of view of the striking men, showed the perfidy of men towards their fellow men. It showed the employers for what they can be inhuman exploiters of their workers. It showed unionists who have become middle class “fat cats” and who were seemingly more concerned with their own jobs and salaries and the “proper bureaucratic procedures” rather with the plight of their “grass root” workers. The heroes of the film were the “grass root” workers! It starred Zac Wallace before he became a star.

“Pat u” seen by me for the second time was revealing. My earlier viewing had left only images of violence in my mind. This time however I heard the intelligent words of Mira Szaszy, Rebecca Evans, Hilda Halkyard, Tom Poata, Dick Cuthbert, Hone Kaa, and others. I feel this film must be seen at least three times. The first time you are in a sense “shell shocked”. The second time you hear the words. The third time you hope it makes sense. " Patu” is indeed part of our nation’s “growing up”. The protest movement with familiar faces but in particular Tim

Shadbolt, now Mayor of Waitemata, still saying the words and still conveying his human feelings which have not changed since the 60’s, is now becoming the “establishment”. There are many others some no longer alive Brian Lepou and Andrew Molotsane. Andrew will not be able to say to us on his very own soil “Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou” as he had hoped. It is the duty of each of us who had any part in the Springbok Tour protest to continue our efforts in that field. It is

our duty to ourselves, to Andrew and Brian and to those who were maimed or damaged for life by the state. We cannot afford such an atrocity, to happen again. We heard of the overseas reaction to the film. It shamed some fellow New Zealanders to say they were Australian.

It gave hope to black indigenous people throughout the world. They were uplifted that so many New Zealanders from every section of our society were prepared to be battoned, maimed, kicked, and made objects of hatred. They were prepared to do so in face of the might of the government. “The people say no” and we were prepared to stand up and be counted. This moved the world and as long as this film is seen and distributed we, the people, will reap the benefit.