Tangihanga

Tangihanga, or more commonly, Tangi, is a traditional Māori funeral rite held on a marae. While still widely practised, it is not universally observed in modern times.

Each iwi (tribe/nation) differs on how they honour those who pass. Tangihanga generally take three days with burial on the third day. From the moment of death, the tūpāpaku (body of the deceased) is rarely alone. The tūpāpaku is transported (usually from a hospital and via a funeral home) to the marae. There they are welcomed with a pōwhiri and will lie in state for at least two nights, usually in an open coffin, in the wharenui.