Often asked: How Long Does A Maori Funeral Go For?

Modern day Tangihanga lasts three days or more with the service and burial taking place on the third or last day, while traditionally the Tupapaku was mourned for weeks before the burial. A priest or minister does the funeral service, which usually follows Christian traditions in modern day.

How long do Māori funerals last?

It is considered an honour to perform the final funeral rites for a loved one and debate can rage from both sides of the marae. Modern tangihanga take three days but there is no set rule and can take much longer.

What do Māori do when someone dies?

The tangihanga is the enduring Māori ceremony for mourning someone who has died. It is commonly called a tangi, which also means to weep, and to sing a dirge (a lament for the dead).

What happens at a Māori funeral?

The tangihanga is the enduring Māori ceremony to mourn the dead. The body lies on a marae and people come to pay their respects. Tangi retain traditional practices which have changed little despite European influence.

How long does it take from death to funeral?

Typically, funerals take place within one to two weeks after death, given all arrangements can be made within that time.

How do Māori view death?

Death. Following a death, Māori custom requires the body of the dead be returned to its whānau (family) as soon as possible. The whānau is then called onto a marae for a tangihanga (funeral) to remove sadness and clear the spirits. Many Māori people believe that the spirits of the dead watch over the living.

How do Māori bury their dead?

In preparing the deceased, Māori would smear the tūpāpaku (dead body) with kōkōwai (red ochre) and oil, then sit it up. After some time bodies were exhumed and bones washed and scraped. Further mourning ceremonies were held on the marae and the bones were buried in secret places.

Do Māori embalm their dead?

In preparation for the tangihanga, Māori have become accustomed to taking their dead to a funeral home to be embalmed. Embalming is a chemical process whereby the corpse is sanitised and preserved which allows the whānau to proceed with the tangihanga, while maintaining a dignified image of the deceased.

How long is bereavement leave in NZ?

If someone close to you dies, and you meet the employee eligibility criteria, you may be able to take up to 3 days of annual bereavement leave. COVID-19: Employment NZ has guidance on work-related issues.

Why do Māori wash hands after cemetery?

Cemetery customs Many marae have an urupā (cemetery) nearby, and this is one of the most tapu places in all of Māori society. People leaving the urupā are expected to wash their hands with water, to reduce the tapu to the safe state of noa.

Why are funerals 3 days after death?

Historically, funerals had to take place after just a matter of days, because of decomposition. With today’s preservation methods, families have a bit more time to prepare and get affairs in order. This helps families make arrangements, and to pick a day to hold the funeral.

Why is 40 days after death?

The 40 days is an opportunity for judgment before God. It’s believed in Eastern Orthodox religions that the soul completes many obstacles known as the aerial toll houses. The soul passes through the aerial realm, which is home to evil spirits. At the end of the 40 days, the soul finds its place in the afterlife.

How long can a body stay at the morgue?

In many countries, the family of the deceased must make the burial within 72 hours (three days) of death, but in some other countries it is usual that burial takes place some weeks or months after the death. This is why some corpses are kept as long as one or two years at a hospital or in a funeral home.