KEY TIKANGA PRINCIPLES in Tangihanga

TAPU AND NOA

– deceased is tapu and everyone around the deceased is in a state of tapu. Prayer, water sprinkled,

and guests given food to become noa - state of normalcy.

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If guests touch the deceased, they must wash their hands and eat food aſterwards to become noa.

MANA

– very important. A tangihanga all about acknowledging someone’s Mana. The more people you have at a

funeral, the more mana you have.

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What if deceased did something wrong in their life? Would this stop people from coming to that person’s

funeral because they believe by going, it would decrease their mana?

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People would sll go. Because Maori view people as a collecve, despite the deceased doing

something wrong, people will sll come to the tangihanga because of the mana of the marae, their

iwi, their family, or they might come to repay the deceased person for coming to a tangihanga of

one of their relaves etc.

MANAAKITANGA

– also clearly on display and directly related to mana, caring for people reflects on your mana. Key

part of tangihanga is caring for the whanau pani and visitors who come on to the marae. Caring for others is done to

show Manaakitanga, because of the whanaungatanga (connecon to the deceased/deceased’s family) and also to

uphold the mana of their marae – if they show good Manaakitanga to the deceased then the mana of their marae

increases.

WHAKAPAPA

– shown through the constant recing of the whakapapa when speeches occur. Also shown by where

the person is buried - usually buried where they have whakapapa to the land where they are buried.

WHANAUNGATANGA

– prevalent at funeral, all about connecng to the deceased, strengthening of relaonships

with people.

AHI KA

(keeping the home fires burning)

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Normally associated with those who live on or near the land. Normally the ones who open up the marae and

play an important role in geng the marae ready for the tangihanga.

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Also important for deciding in where the body should go – Ahi ka is your closest connecon and Maori have

many different marae that are significant to them and so through Ahi ka, it helps to decide which marae the

tangihanga process will be held

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Also, about bringing people back to their turangawaewae

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A person’s turangawaewae is a place they will

always have to go back to

KANOHI KITEA

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Face to Face

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Seen to be in aendance

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way that the deceased family feel as though you are present and that you care for them

and the deceased.

UTU – reciprocity

Giving for something by giving a Koha.

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Can be seen in people donang money during the tangi to contribute to the funeral costs

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Can also be food or by helping out with jobs related to the tangi

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Usually a record is kept of how much Koha is given

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When a person who gives Koha passes away, you should then go to their tangi and give them/their family a Koha to

repay them for the Koha they gave you.