Urupā Tautaiao: Revitalising ancient customs and practices for the modern world

This urupā tautaiao (natural burials) research is a Marsden funded project with decolonising agenda. It presents pragmatic opportunity for Māori to re-evaluate, reconnect, and adapt ancient customs practices the modern world. The design practice output focus restoration of existing graves located in (burial ground) Ngāti Moko, hapū (subtribe) Tapuika tribe that occupy ancestral land central North Island New Zealand. In preparation gravesite development, series hui (tribal meetings) were held engage encourage participation research. final which honours pre-contact customary practices, involved collaboration between tribe, an ecologist, landscape architect. Hui included workshops exploring burial practices. Although interred dead variety environmentally sustainable ways, funerary have dramatically shifted due colonisation. Consequently, adopted damaging European includes chemical embalming, concrete gravestones, water soil pollution. Mindful tribal diversity, post-colonial tangihanga (customary funerals) incorporate distinctively European, beliefs Fortuitously, they also retained essence tūturu (authentic) traditions reinforce identity social cohesion. Tūturu are incorporated into gravesite. Surrounded by conventional using only natural materials, aspires capture beauty nature embellished cultural motifs. Low maintenance native plants intersected four pou (traditional carvings)that carry pūrākau (Māori sacred narratives) life death. dialectical concept accentuated depicting Papatūānuku (Earth Mother). Etched her womb coiled umbilical cord referencing life. Reminding us that, although death we return womb, it place nurtures Hoki koe ki Papatūānuku, te kōpū o whenua (return Papatūānuku) often heard during ritual speeches at tangihanga. commemorates our connection gods. According beliefs, primeval parents (Earth) Ranginui (Sky) genealogically link people environment together through whakapapa (kinship). Whakapapa imposes on humankind, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), responsibility wellbeing environment. death, returning way, gives credence kaitiakitanga. presentation focuses encourages embrace culturally compatible burials affordable, responsible, visually aesthetic. has potential other indigenous communities explore their own alternative, unique innovative ways address challenges.