Tangi – Maori funeral practice

The tangi or tangihanga embraces the funeral rites accorded a person before the body is finally interred. The Maori belief is that the tupapaku (body of the deceased person) should not be left on its own at any stage after death. Hence people will gather to take the tupapaku from the funeral practice to the marae, or place it where it will lie in the company of people until burial. Family and friends may come and go from this place as they wish, or they may remain until after the actual burial.

All people, including relatives arriving for a tangi, will go through the usual karanga (the call of welcome) and mihi (greeting) procedures.

The coffin is left open, and people will touch the tupapaku. Speeches will be made directly to the tupapaku in the belief that the spirit does not leave the vicinity of the body until the burial.

The marae

The importance of the tangi being held at the marae (the traditional meeting place of Maori people) is, in part, the fulfilment of the wairua or spiritual being of the Maori – the belief that those who have died are always with the marae, that the recently dead are released into the care of the long dead. It is important to Maori that the dead be brought together to be greeted, respected and farewelled.

It is equally important that the living come together to support each other. By supporting each other on the marae, the living are made aware of their place in life. They are also reminded of the role of those who have died and the manner in which they are affected by their spiritual presence.

Some people will remain at the tangi for a few hours; others will remain overnight or for two or three days. A marae has learned to cope with fluctuating and uncertain numbers of people.

Marae are used for a variety of events, including weddings, but tangi take precedence over all other marae uses.

However, it is not unknown for a wedding to take place while a tupapaku is lying on the marae. Although this may be unthinkable to the non-Maori, to Maori there is nothing illogical about celebrating occasions related to the living and dying in the same place. This is a good example of Maori wairua – the belief that life and death are intimately intertwined.

The belief that the spirit does not leave the vicinity of the body until burial means that the spirit of the loved parent or family member is present to witness the marriage; the deceased shares spiritually in the ongoing life of the living. On this occasion, death is very much part of life.

Urupa

Maori establish urupa (cemeteries or burial places) in association with marae, so whanau (family) can care for the place where their own have been buried.

It is usually the wish of an individual to return to their whanau urupa, as much as it is the desire of the family to bring their dead ‘home’. Older people will express the wish to be ‘taken home’. Yet, because in marriage there is a link with another area, there exists for each person at least two ‘homes’.

Most urupa are situated close to the marae. In these special tapu places – places of natural beauty – Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) cares for the bodies of her charges.

A visit to the urupa is important if one is returning home after a long absence to reinforce knowledge of personal whakapapa (genealogy).

At the urupa, members of families are usually reserved places within the family rows – as the family was together in life, so the family is together in death.

It is important that the tapu of the area be recognised by visitors. On leaving the urupa, its tapu is removed by washing the hands in water. Many urupa have containers of water placed just outside the gate for this purpose. Other urupa can be reached only by crossing a creek. It is here that visitors or family will stop to wash their hands.

In the absence of water, it may be that rewena (home-cooked bread) is available. In this case, the bread is crumbled and used to ‘wash away’ the tapu. This action recreates the state of noa, or freedom to move among, and have contact with others.

Adapted from ‘Te Marae – A Guide to Customs & Protocol’ by Hiwi and Pat Tauroa. Published by Reed Methuen Publishers Ltd., 39 Rawene Road, Auckland, New Zealand. ISBN 0 474 00157 1. First published in 1986 and reprinted in 1987. To purchase a copy of the book, contact: www.reed.co.nz or your local bookseller.

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