Following a death, Maori custom requires the
body of the dead be returned to its whanau (family) as soon as possible. The
whanau is then called onto a marae for a tangihanga (funeral) to remove sadness
and clear the spirits. The ghosts and spirits are called to join those who are
already living in the afterlife. It is believed that if certain rituals are not
conducted, the whanau of a dead person are likely to face stress and
unhappiness and if the spirits are not satisfied, they may choose to take
someone else. Sometimes, when a person is coming close to death a relative
familiar with the procedure may perform the tuku wairua which is where the dying gets special treatment to allow their spirit to leave their body, but so it does not wander. Priests or
ministers, generally Christian, may still be called to give the dying person a
blessing. Many Maori people believe that the spirits of the dead watch over the
living. For this reason, Maori families will hold unveiling services and
blessings of gravestones of those who have been gone for a year or longer as a
way of remembering and paying respects to those who have died.
Find more about the unique Maori beliefs of afterlife at: www.everyculture.com/.../Maori-Religion-and-Expressive-Culture.html