Dealing with New Zealand Mäori who die in Australia
Presented by
H Brandt ShortlandCoroner for Northland, New Zealand
Kia ora Koutou
Overview:
- Mäori living in Australia
- Understanding the basic family structure
- Understanding the relationship with death
- Tangi
- The Shane Hau case
- Implications for those dealing with Mäori deaths in Australia/Pacific Basin
Mäori living in Australia
- Te Puni Kokiri Report
- 125,000 living in Australia
- 1 in every 7 Mäori live in Australia
- New Zealanders greatest migrant group to Australia
Understanding the basic family structure
- Whanau
- Hapu
- Iwi
- Whangai
Understanding Mäori when they die
- death taken very seriously
- death brings a connection between life and the spiritual realm
- galvanisation of Mäori customs and protocols
- the gathering of family and whanau
- the commencement of a journey back to Hawaikinui
Tangi
- mourning, grieving, celebrating
- the gathering of whanau
- the preparations
- the embracing
- the wero
- protocols and customs
The Shane Hau Case
- What happened?
- Why was there controversy?
- Why this whanau reacted like they did
Implications for those dealing with Mäori deaths
- Mäori customs followed rigidly in Australia
- Returning home
- Understanding Mäori protocols imperative
- Good communication
- Don’t jump to conclusions
- Ensure you deal with appropriate representative
Conclusion:
- the Mäori population in Australia is only going to increase
- Adherence to Mäori protocols / customs
- Tangi is the custom taken most seriously
- Death defines the Mäori culture
- Mäori can be both loving and inclusive or confrontational and challenging if misunderstood
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