Someone enlighten me about Maori protocol

I have heard that if you have your period you are not to help with the preparation of the food for the feast. It does also vary to tribe to tribe. I can ask my SIL if you like she know her stuff on this as she teaches it at Waikato Uni.

I kinda like that idea. So when AF is here it is acceptable to do no cooking! YAY!!!! What do you mean "but you arent Maori?" te he he.

The other one that I almost got caught out with was not sitting on tables. I was doing a presentation for a group of maori elders and board members (when I worked for the health board) and someone told me before I went in not to lean on the table with my bum or sit on it.

 

yup no siting on the table is correct and your not allowed to put shoes on the table either big no no and yuck even if your not into cutural things........

No sitting on tables, leaning against tables with your butt, putting shoes or hairbrushes/hairties etc. on tables or benches/food prep areas, no feet on pillows, no shoes on pillows, no sitting on pillows, no helping with food prep if you have your period, wash your hands when you leave the urupa, no going back into the house where someone died after the tangi until it has been tramped (before/during the tangi it's OK), no entering the Marae without being welcomed on, no entering the meeting house while someone is speaking, no leaving the meeting house while someone is speaking, no shoes in the meeting house, no cutting your hair during the tangi, in most tribes women sit at the back behind the men during the speeches...

Can you tell I have spent a lot of time at tangi?

Don't know about men's legs, but definitely don't step over anyones legs I think from memory. Another one, never ever take food without saying a karakia first.

Oh my goodness, how would I ever remember all of that? No, I'm not going to one, but was just really curious.

All of that stuff is correct. Also, if your pregnant, your not allowed on the urupa. And its not just washing your hands upon leaving, its also flicking the water back over your head, to wash away the spirits.
I found out a lot, as when we were at my partners nans tangi in April last year, I was pregnant. I actually ended up having the baby whilst there on the final day!