Tanihana Procedure
at Alert Level 4
This is what we have worked out…
If we must farewell a loved one during this time of lockdown, not being able to practice our normal tanihana tikana will be testing. The Tūhoe Tribals, local Police and Funeral Homes are dedicated to working together to support whānau adapt our tanihana practices during this extraordinary time.
The restrictions in place at Alert Level 4: • Gathering together for tanihana is not permitted. Whānau from inside and outside of the Bubble of the tūpāpaku cannot go to the funeral home or urupā. • Cultural protocols and practices are not able to be followed in the same way we are used to. • Marae are closed. Urupā arrangements must be made with Marae Kaitiaki. • Tūpapaku are not to be transported interregionally.
The restrictions in place at Alert Level 4: • Funeral directors are encouraged to carry out burial and cremations as quickly as possible. • In the physical absence of your whānau, alternative ways to honor your loved one can be discussed with Funeral directors. • Covid-19 related deaths will follow a separate and distinct process. • Police and Funeral Director may uplift your loved one in PPE, please don’t be freaked out by this.
Whānau Please appoint a whānau member to liaise with a Kaiwhakarite as soon as possible when someone has passed away.
Whānau dealing with tūpāpaku at home Your whānau are encouraged to work with a Kaiwhakarite to arrange the next steps for your tanihana procedure. When a whānau member passes away at home, there is nothing to answer to this despair. When you can, the whānau needs to contact the GP to determine the cause of death. Where the GP cannot do this a Post Mortem will be required and the Police become involved to help transport your whānau to your nearest centre.
Kaiwhakarite Your Kaiwhakarite should be the first point of contact when someone passes away.
Contacting a Kaiwhakarite can help with: Connecting your whānau with the appropriate support people for the tanihana procedure. This may include but is not limited too: • GP or Post Mortem Centre • Funeral Director • Marae Kaitiaki • Local Police, if necessary
Marae Kaitiaki Guidance and support for whānau urupā
Marae Kaitiaki Tribals have been contacting their marae to identify who their Marae Kaitiaki are to provide guidance and support for whānau urupā.
Allow anyone at Funeral Home (FH)
Allow anyone at burial
Storage for post-level-4 tanihana
Cremation operating in the district
Allow embalming as an option
WHAKATANE DISTRICT – SERVICING RUATOKI, TE WAIMANA, WAIOHAU Gateway Funeral Home 17 Awatapu Dr 07 308 6102
Willetts Funeral Services 21 King St 07 307 1111
YES NO
NO
YES
YES
If, storage required, then embalming required.
YES NO
NO
YES
YES
If, storage required, then embalming required.
ROTORUA DISTRICT – SERVICING RUATAHUNA White Haven Funeral Home 27 Old Taupo Rd, Mangakakahi Rd 07 347 9790
YES NO
NO
YES
YES
If, storage required, then embalming required.
WAIROA DISTRICT – SERVICE WAIKAREMOANA Pickering Funeral Services 62 Marine Parade 06838 7606
YES NO
NO
YES
YES
If, storage required, then embalming required.
Working together in the spirit of kindness and love will help us all through these trying times.