August 12, 2020
Marae opts for contactless tangi
Eastern Bay of Plenty iwi Te Whānau ā Apanui will this afternoon discuss whether it again needs to close off its borders to prevent COVID-19 reaching its vulnerable population.
Spokesperson Willie Te Aho says marae are also taking steps, with his own Raukokore Marae closing until there is more clarity around the level 2 lockdown.
Others tangi scheduled are preparing industrial quantities of sanitisers, and a tangi at Maraenui will probably involve a contactless whakatau.
“They come onto the marae. The poroporoaki takes place. We have karakia and then the tupapaku is taken to the urupa at Maraenui. We have karakia there and then after that, there is no hariru, the people go straight back to Taupo and other areas,” Mr Te Aho says.
Willie Te Aho
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