15/03/2026
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'Returning Our Loved Ones Home' shares sacred knowledge about caring for our loved ones when they pass. Most whānau don’t realise they are legally allowed to care for their tūpāpaku themselves when they pass.
Death itself is not the frightening part … not knowing what to do is.
For generations our tūpuna cared for their own tūpāpaku with aroha, within the whānau, on the marae, and on their own whenua. Over time this knowledge was quietly taken away as we became dependent on Western funeral systems.
Today many whānau feel pressured into funerals that can cost $20,000 or more, often during one of the most painful times in their lives. Yet our ancestors showed us another way, one grounded in dignity, simplicity, and love.
What many people do not realise is that you are legally allowed to care for your loved one yourself, but most whānau have never been told this.
This free guide shares practical steps and traditional wisdom for manaaki i te tūpāpaku, drawn from the lived experiences of our kuia and the whānau of the Te Waka Tapu o Takitimu Wānanga Series 2003 - 2006.
This resource will be available as a free download on the Harata Meretana Ma Charitable Trust page soon. Check on the link below
https://hmmct.com/aio-healing-online-shop/
If you think this knowledge could help another whānau one day, please share this post.