How To Tangi

Rārangi Rauemi | Resource Directory

How To Tangi is a kaupapa that aims to support whānau to gain understanding and confidence around tangihanga.

There are lots of excellent resources out there to help you navigate through different aspects of preparing for death, dealing with death, understanding tangihanga/funeral processes, and grief. We’ve collated some of the resources we've used to develop our own rauemi (as well as some others we think are helpful) together here to share with you - this list is also available as a PDF download.

Tikanga and kawa around tangihanga will vary depending on iwi, hapū and whānau, as well as in different contexts and locations - we encourage you to kōrero with your own communities about your unique kawa and tikanga.

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Information about Tangihanga

Death Customs

Information about tangihanga on Te Ara, from origins of tikanga relating to death, to traditional preparations and practices, through to the processes of tangihanga in modern times.

How To Attend A Tangi

An in-depth explanation of what you can generally expect to see and what to do at tangihanga, and an explanation of different parts of the tangi process.

Tangihanga Kawa - Funeral Ceremony

A web page sharing kōrero from kaumātua about different aspects and tikanga of tangihanga. There are more resources throughout the website, such as information about tikanga, nehu | burial, and hura kōhatu | unveiling the headstone.

Ngā Aratohu Tangihanga - Tangihanga Guidelines (Taranaki)

Guidelines sharing tikanga and kawa for tangihanga/funeral processes and practices of Taranaki Iwi. The aim is to help whānau plan and prepare for tangihanga, so they are aware of expectations and the steps to be taken at the marae or at home during this time.

Tangihanga: Ceremonies Of The Dead (Chapter by Hirini Moko Mead)

The chapter ‘Tangihanga: Ceremonies of the Dead’ in Hirini Moko Mead’s book covers tangihanga and other ceremonies relating to death in depth. He details tikanga within the different processes, and shares mātauranga/knowledge about Māori ideas around death.

  • Mead, H. M. (2016). Tikanga Māori - Living by Māori Values. Huia Publishers.

Support for Tangihanga/Funeral Processes

Using a Funeral Director

An article from Citizens Advice Bureau about what a funeral director offers, to help you decide if you’d like to use one. CAB have heaps more articles on their website about what to do when someone dies, funeral arrangements, administering the estate, and more.

Taking Care of Someone's Death Without a Funeral Director

DIY Funeral - a website with heaps of information and resources about planning for death, legal requirements once someone has passed, tips for saving on funeral expenses and information about caring for a tūpāpaku/body at home. It is helpful for decision-making around death in a New Zealand context.

Ngā Pou Herenga - The Funeral Guides Collective

Information and resources from Ngā Pou Herenga, The Funeral Guides Collective, based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Other parts of their website have information about tangihanga, death and dying, advanced care, costs, natural burials, caring for tūpāpaku/bodies and more.

Celebrants Association New Zealand

Find a registered funeral celebrant who suits your needs.

End Of Life Doula Alliance Aotearoa

Find a registered end of life doula who suits your needs, and understand what they can support you with.

Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand

Find a registered funeral director who suits your needs, and check out their wealth of resources.

Te Hokinga Wairua - End of Life Service

A Government website with relevant information about how to guide you and your whānau through bereavement. Kaupapa/topics include first days, financial support options, working through affairs, and when you need support.

WINZ Funeral Grant

WINZ offers a funeral grant to help with funeral costs for someone who has died. There are specific income limits, and it also depends on your relationship to the person who has died.

Preparing For & Understanding Death

Understanding Death

Go With Grace has a wealth of information and resources about understanding death throughout their website: preparing for death, manner of death, returning a body from overseas, caring for the body, farewell planning and options, what to do following loss, and dealing with legal stuff. They also list upcoming events and workshops around New Zealand.

Death Week - The Spinoff

A selection of different articles written for The Spinoff’s Death Week. Kaupapa/topics range from the cost of funerals, to life insurance, to decolonising Māori burials, to what happens to your photos, files, and social media when you die.

Advanced Care Planning

Advanced care planning can be done by those who are unwell, and those who are well - a plan to record your values, goals, and what your preferences are for your current and future healthcare. This is helpful to share with others for decision-making around your wellbeing, especially for when you can no longer speak or make decisions for yourself.

Assisted Dying

Information and resources about eligibility criteria, assessment processes, and steps to the process of assisted dying.

Donating Your Body to Otago Medical School

Understanding the option of donating your body to Medical Science - how and why (including requirements and restrictions), history, ethical practices, and giving thanks.

When Someone Dies Suddenly - A Guide to Coronial Services

Under NZ law, when someone dies suddenly or unexpectedly, the Police and Coroner must investigate the death. This is a booklet explaining the Coroner’s process and your rights in this context as whānau.

Repatriation - When Someone Dies Overseas

An explanation of the different legal requirements and costs for returning a body or ashes to New Zealand from overseas.

When Someone Has Died

A helpful web page from Public Trust with information about the logistical side of what to do when someone has died, in particular about Wills.

Following Loss

A selection of resources around understanding and moving through grief, including counselling, support group, and helpline options around Aotearoa.

Workshops

There are a range of groups and people in Aotearoa who run events, workshops and wānanga to support and empower whānau to learn more about death, dying, funerals and tangihanga. Some that we have come across during our research are detailed below. 

Please note that we at Reo Māori Mai have not attended any of the workshops or engaged directly with the people listed here. We cannot speak to the content or quality of the resources or training offered, and encourage you to do your best to ensure that what is offered is reliable and meets your needs. 

If you know of other groups or people we could add to this list, please email kiaora@reomaorimai.co.nz and let us know the details.

Death Without Debt

Rangiwhanui Tangihanga Services

Ngā Pou Herenga: Funeral Guides Collective

Living Legacies

Carol Wales

Go With Grace (list of upcoming events around Aotearoa from different groups)

Disclaimer

How To Tangi resources are intended as a starting point for further research and discussion with your whānau and community about death, dying, and tangihanga/funerals - not as a complete guide. The information in this resource is current as at April 2025 and accurate to the best of our knowledge. Reo Māori Mai assumes no responsibility or liability for actions taken based on any of our How To Tangi content or of any other sources linked in this content.