Someone enlighten me about Maori protocol
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Topic: Someone enlighten me about Maori protocol
Posted By: Katherine
Subject: Someone enlighten me about Maori protocol
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 11:00am
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A friend pointed me to a thread on another message board about having your period and going to a tangi. Now, please excuse my ignorance, but is it forbidden to attend a tangi if you have your period? The debate was getting really heated and I'm so curious. How would people know if you had your period anyway? Do you tell them? What are the other rules surrounding menstruation? Someone on here must know! |
Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 11:31am
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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 was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 11:43am
| Have never heard about not attending a tangi, but I do know like Becks said, no helping prepare the food, and you're also not allowed to catch food (ie fish). Basically your body is tapu while you have your period. |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 12:21pm
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.
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Posted By: lucky3rdtime
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 1:39pm
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LOL at NZPiper, I was thinking the same thing, "sorry can't help you with the food aunt flo has come for a visit" useful to know. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 1:49pm
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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.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fairsk8
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:11pm
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Becks, what is your SIL name? I may have had her as a teacher/lecturer. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: nictoddie
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:12pm
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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........ ------------- 
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Posted By: nictoddie
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:12pm
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Washing hands when leaving the cememtry is another one -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 3:38pm
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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? -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: shaz
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 4:14pm
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I have been told that you should not step over a man's legs either not sure where I heard that though. I haven't been to many tangi but have been to my DH's Marae many times. ------------- Mum to Natasha Aroha 9/12/1995, Alexandra Makareta Waimarie 22/4/1998 and....Alyssa Frances Hopaea 18/03/2007 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 4:21pm
| 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. |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 7:02pm
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no woman cant step over a mans legs in the marie
(sorry bad spelling) only a wife is do that you can walk into a marie if you belong to that tribe no ffood prep if you have your peroid or cutting or weaving flax deff no sitting on tables pretty much whay emma said  ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 9:36pm
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Oh my goodness, how would I ever remember all of that? No, I'm not going to one, but was just really curious. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 10:26am
| That's why your usually in the company of Maori people and you just take their lead. First time I went on a marae we'd been briefed beforehand and I still had to keep second-guessing myself at every step. |
Posted By: Monzta
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 2:03pm
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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! |
Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 3:22pm
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Yea, i find it easy just to take their lead (even tho iam often looked to!) or i ask a family memeber that doesnt mind being asked... ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |