Tangihanga

A Tangihanga also known as tangi is a traditional Maori funeral

Po Whakangahau

Po Whakangahau is the night before the burial. On this night, people perform, sing, tell jokes and try to cheer up the family of the person who died because the nest day will be very hard for them.

The Burial

After the service the body is taken to the Urupa (cemetery) for the burial. There are never private burials from tangihanga - everyone is there to support the whanau pani. If the urupa is close by, the body is usually carried to the urupa, with the people following. 

When everyone is gathered at the gate of the Urupa with the tupapaku, the kai karanga calls everyone in.

A final service is sometimes said and the person is then lowered to their final resting place.

Time is now given for people to speak and to say their final farewells. Some sing songs as well. When this is all finished, everyone files past the grave and throws either a flower or a piece of dirt in.

Takahi te Kainga 

After the person has been buried the family and a tuhonga come and bless the house

Hakari

The final feast, which is a celebration of life. Often during the hakari, people will get up and speak and perform items.