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Story: Tangihanga – death customs

Rituals of encounter: whaikōrero

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Rituals of encounter: whaikōrero

This koroua (elder) carries his tokotoko (stick) and delivers his whaikōrero (speech). He is supported by women who wear pare kawakawa (leaves) in their hair and carry or wear branches of greenery.

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Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira

Reference: C1262

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Rawinia Higgins, Tangihanga – death customs – Tangihanga in modern times, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28795/rituals-of-encounter-whaikorero (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Rawinia Higgins, published 3 May 2011.