The Story Of Witarina

Witarina Te Miriarangi Parewahaika Harris, was born in the year 1906, in Ohinemutu, Rotorua. She had died in 2007, aged 101. Witarina had worked as a typist in Rotorua, where she had auditioned and successfully gotten the starring role as Princess Miro in Hollywood’s 1929 film “Under the Southern Cross”.

Around the 1930’s, when filming had come to its end, she became a public servant in Wellington. Where she worked as a shorthand typist for Sir Apirana Ngata. In the 1950’s she had also been a foundation member for the Maori Women’s Welfare League. She married Reg Harris during this time as well.

In the 1970’s, when her husband had passed away, she moved back to Ohinemutu in Rotorua. Where she was later discovered in the 80's by New Zealand Archive's director, Johnathan Dennis, where he had asked her to be the kaumatua for their organization. In which she had traveled the world telling the wonders of New Zealand’s filming history.

She had received a Taiki Ngapara lifetime achievement award and was also rewarded the Queens Service Medal (QSM) award for community service in 1986. Witarina had inspired film people with everything Maori, in which she would showcase certain films to different Marae across the country.

Witarina Harris was a well-known and respected Kuia among the Te Arawa people and so with great pride our house carries her name and legacy. (Below is a painting of the late Witarina Harris)