Ramai Hayward

Patricia Rongomaitara "Ramai" Hayward MNZM (née Te Miha, 11 November 1916 – 3 July 2014) was a New Zealand photographer, actor, and filmmaker who made films in five countries. Her film career began in 1940 when she co-starred in the historical movie Rewi's Last Stand, after meeting her future husband, legendary New Zealand director Rudall Hayward. The first Māori cinematographer, she spent three years making films in England with Rudall. Later the couple were the first to make English language films in China after the communist revolution.[1]

Ramai Hayward

MNZM
Born(1916-11-11)11 November 1916
Martinborough, New Zealand
Died3 July 2014(2014-07-03) (aged 97)
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1943; died 1974)

Early life and family

Hayward was born in the North Island town of Martinborough in 1916, the daughter of Roihi Te Miha and Fred Mawhiney, a motor mechanic.[2][3] She affiliated to the Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāi Tahu iwi (tribes).[4] Her father served in the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps and died of wounds in Belgium in 1917.[5] In 1917 her mother married Jim Miller, and Hayward was subsequently known as Patricia Miller for a period.

Career

Ramai trained in stills photography when she became an apprentice to French photographer Henri Harrison in Wellington. In the 1930s she set up her own photography studio in Auckland, and soon had eight employees.[4]

In the late 30s she met director Rudall Hayward, after he cast her as the romantic lead in a remake of his 1925 silent movie Rewi's Last Stand. Both films were inspired by conflicts during the New Zealand Wars.

In 1946 the couple, now married, traveled to England, where they spent around three years. Ramai learnt to operate the sound camera that Rudall had developed back in New Zealand. She was one of the few women working professionally as a cinematographer in the United Kingdom in this period.

The couple also made films in Australia, Albania, and China.

In the 1950s, based again in New Zealand but marketing their films around the world, they began two decades of making scenic films, a series of educational films, and a short film on Opo the dolphin. Ramai's contribution ranged across shooting, scripting, editing, and co-directing, but as Rudall got older, Ramai took on increasing responsibilities. Some say she was the primary force on their final feature film, 1972's To Love a Maori,[6] which was the first local dramatic feature shot in colour.

Rudall died in 1974. In her later years, Ramai continued to take occasional acting roles. She died in July 2014.

Honours

In the 2006 New Year Honours, Hayward was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to film and television.[7]

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References
  1. Harley, Alison (12 July 2014). "Maori filmmaker Ramai Hayward dies at 98". 3 News. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  2. "Long service to TV, films rewarded". Wairarapa Times-Age. 5 January 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. "Mawhiney, Frederick William". Cenotaph Database. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  4. "Ramai Hayward". NZ On Screen. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  5. "Roll of honour". Poverty Bay Herald. 25 October 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. Shepard, Deborah (2000). Reframing Women: A History of New Zealand Film. Auckland: HarperCollins. p. 12. ISBN 1 86950 314 7.
  7. "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
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