Eight Kāwhia Marae Close Down Tribal Gatherings

Cathrine Holland speaks to Dale Husband from Radio Waatea about the challenging decision the collective made to close down their 8 marae before lockdown kicked it.  While the move was inevitable, the impact was devastating on tribal gatherings like whānau tangihanga.  However, all of the 8 marae stepped up to make the decision to reduce the spread of COVID 19.

Listen to the full interview here.

Eight coastal marae around the Kāwhia harbour in the Waikato, King Country closed their gates to tribal gatherings as the government ramped up the country’s ALERT status to level 4.

In consultation with their respective governance bodies, marae representatives from Ōkapū, Mōkai kāinga, Waipapa, Maketū, Rākaunui, Marokopa, Āruka and Te Kōraha made a collective stand to stop all coastal marae gatherings including tangihanga during this period.

Nick Tuwhāngai, kaumātua for Mōkaikainga Marae says this is the toughest challenge our whānau will ever have to face on our marae in Kāwhia over the next 4 weeks in the event of a tangihanga.

“The way we farewell our dead is sacrosanct to all Māori not just to us here in Kāwhia but the whole of Māoridom and my heart goes out to all whānau who have to face a family bereavement under these circumstances.  It breaks my heart to think our whānau will not have the time or the marae ātea to tangi and cry for their loved ones who pass away during this emergency.  But if we pay the price now by closing down our marae here in Kāwhia, we will save lives because this virus doesn’t care what culture you come from, what language you speak and what colour your skin is.  If you have mass gatherings, it’s going to kill you so our eight marae here in Kāwhia have made a collective effort to prevent our whānau and kaumatua from contracting or spreading this disease, “ he says.

If a death occurs in the whānau during the Level 4 alert period announced by Government, the 8 Kāwhia Marae will open their marae cemeteries immediately for burials in the urupā.  The Marae support the national guidelines to hold an appropriate karakia at the grave side before the burial, however, all 8 Marae will remain closed.

Cathrine Holland, kaikōrero for Waipapa Marae says the 8 marae have made a collective pact to stand together to protect our families and reduce the spread of the virus.

“Our thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by the impact of COVID-19.  These are uncertain and unprecedented times.  We won’t have access to mass gatherings like tangihanga to show our aroha and support and love for our grieving whānau.  But we do have technology.  It’s okay to use your iPad to live stream our tangihanga if it means we’re saving lives.  It’s okay to use our mobiles to livestream our moments of grief and sadness.  This isn’t about what’s culturally right or wrong, it’s about changing the tribal compass to prevent the spread of this killer disease,” she said. 

The 8 Kāwhia marae will remain closed for the next 4 weeks until Government lowers the ALERT 4 status on mass gatherings.