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