Maori Funeral: Tangi Ceremony

This a topic I have been meaning to write about for a while.  In Grade 11 (Ugh 2005/2006....) I had the opportunity to go to New Zealand with on a Rugby tour. While there I billeted with a Maori family, and was briefly introduced to some of their customs.  One particular thing that stuck in my mind was how elaborate and detailed a funeral was. I never experienced one while I was there but was told about how important they were and some other facts related to them, like the deceased was not to be left alone at anytime during the funeral. I just have never taken it upon myself to really look up the whole process until now.

When looking I found and interesting web post by Rachel Sawaya titled, " What to do and How to Behave at a Tangi."  This post detailed protocol and ediquette surrounding a traditional Maori funeral.  According to this post, a tangi is held at a marae, which is a meeting house not unlike the Bighouse associated with first nations of the Northwest Coast.  These ceremonies can last for several days and visitors are allowed to stay as long as they wish, sleeping at the  marae is allowed, though a small donation is expected.  When entering the marae the hosts of the tangi will perform a welcoming ceremony called a powiri.

The individual for which the tangi is being held is often placed in an open casket.  It is very important not to leave the body unattended at anytime during the ceremony as the spirit of the loved one is believed to be very close by.  Vigil is held over the body at all times and friends and family will talk to, wail over and touch the body in an attempt to lessen the pain of the passing for those left behind.  Burial of the body is often a traditional non-maori burial depending on the individuals religious beliefs.  It is thought that after burial the spirit of the deceased continues north to the very tip of New Zealand where it then departs for the Maori homeland of Hawaiki.

Here is the web post in question take a look if you have time:
http://rachel-sawaya.suite101.com/what-to-do-and-how-to-behave-at-a-tangi-a198812