Public screening of Hotere (2001)

A special public screening of the acclaimed documentary Hotere (2001), directed by pioneering Māori filmmaker Merata Mita (1942–2010), will take place at 7pm on Sunday 13 April at the Davis Theatre, Whanganui Regional Museum.

Presented jointly by Whanganui Film Society and Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, the screening invites the community to experience an intimate and evocative portrait of one of Aotearoa’s most significant artists, Ralph Hotere (Te Aupōuri). Admission is by koha at the door, ensuring the event remains accessible to all.

Widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s foremost contemporary artists, Ralph Hotere is the subject of Mita’s impressionistic and deeply considered documentary. Rather than following a conventional biographical format, Hotere offers a perspective on the artist’s world through his extensive body of work, relationships, and environment.

Hotere, famously sparing with words, reflects this philosophy in the film’s opening line: “There are very few things I can say about my work that are better than saying nothing.” True to this sentiment, he remains largely reserved on screen. Instead, Mita constructs a layered portrait through interviews with artists, friends, and commentators, alongside scenes of Hotere working and moments captured at his home in Port Chalmers.

“It’s not that he’s unwilling to talk about his work,” Mita observed in 2001. “He believes the work is there for you to see… It’s more that his humility gets in the way of all that nonsense.” The film honours this approach, allowing viewers space to engage directly with the art and the ideas surrounding it.

The documentary is further enriched by a distinctive score directed by Hirini Melbourne, blending jazz, Māori, and popular music traditions. Poetry readings by Hotere’s first wife, poet Cilla McQueen, add another layer of texture, echoing the interdisciplinary nature of Hotere’s creative collaborations.

Released in 2001, Hotere remains a significant work in Aotearoa’s documentary canon and a testament to Merata Mita’s enduring legacy. Mita, a filmmaker, producer, and writer, was a key figure in the growth of the Māori screen industry. She was the first Indigenous woman, and the first woman in New Zealand, to solely write and direct a dramatic feature film, with Mauri. Her work continues to influence generations of filmmakers in Aotearoa and beyond.

This screening offers Whanganui audiences a valuable opportunity to encounter both Mita’s filmmaking and Hotere’s artistic legacy on the big screen.