Tangi Process

A tangi is the traditional Maori mourning funeral held in a marae where whanau, hapu and iwi come together to grieve over the loss of a loved one. Some tangis are different depending on what the iwi decides to do for the passing of the person. Some iwi like to throw the body outside the window of the marae or just bury them. At first people that know the person but not from the iwi are welcomed into their marae which is known as a powhiri and then the iwi members will say their pepeha and send the condolences to them. Family members of the passed person are the most important people for the tangi. They are known as kirimate meaning the skin of death. During the tangi, family members are not expected to cook kai, clean or sing waiata or give speeches. The coffin is left open for people to spend time with him until burial. People that say speeches are people that are from the iwi or hapu of the passed person. But also relatives or good friends are aloud to say speeches. Many waiatas are sang during the funeral. A hakari which is a feast happens after the burial of the person which is suppose to lift tapu.