Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Senior Research Fellow at Te Ārai Palliative Care & End-of-life Research Group talks about a study of bereaved Māori whānau experiences with deaths during COVID-19 lockdown.

New Zealand’s COVID-19 Tangihanga (funeral) policies required a tūpāpaku (body) to be uplifted by a Funeral Director immediately after a Death Certificate was completed. Indigenous whānau (family including extended family), were unable to employ their tikanga (customs) during lockdown; Māori want their deceased’s body to be with them at a marae (meeting house), or private home, before internment. What helped whānau during this challenging time?

Moeke-Maxwell says “We aimed to explore bereaved Māori whānau experiences of providing end-of-life care and conducting funerals during COVID-19 Lockdown. We wanted to explore the perspectives of health professionals and Funeral Directors to understand what helped or hindered whānau.“

The 29 case studies presented are raw and heart-breaking and even for the researchers involved, pushed their emotional, physical and spiritual boundaries.  

Tess Moeke-Maxwell hails from the tribes Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Porou. She is a Senior Research Fellow and co-director of the Te Ārai Palliative Care and End of Life Research Group at the School of Nursing, University of Auckland.

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