Ghosts and spirits in Māori culture

The topic of ghosts and spirits (kehua) in Māori culture is often

considered a tapu subject, yet many Māori legends contain mentions
of apparitions and paranormal occurrences. It is claimed that long
deceased family members may appear to warn of upcoming danger,
such as with the famous phantom canoe in 1886 that many reportedly
saw on Lake Tarawera, that is believed to have been an omen for the
volcanic eruption that occurred eleven days later.[1][2]

Kikokiko are known in Māori belief as malevolent ghosts that take

possession of living people, making them lose sanity. Taniwha are
A phantom canoe was believed to
guardian monsters that reside in bodies of water such as rivers or lakes
have been seen by tourists at Lake
and can appear as sharks, whales, dragons or even floating logs.[1] Tarawera eleven days before Mount
Tarawera erupted in 1886.

Contents
Death
Departing place of the spirits
Hilltop and forest spirits
References

Death
Following a death, Māori custom requires the body of the dead be returned to its whānau (family) as soon as
possible. The whānau is then called onto a marae for a tangihanga (funeral) to remove sadness and clear the
spirits. The ghosts and spirits are called to join those who are already living in the afterlife. It is believed that if
certain rituals are not conducted, the whānau of a dead person are likely to face stress and unhappiness and if
the spirits are not satisfied, they may choose to take someone else.[3]

Sometimes, when a person was nearing death, beyond hope of further living, a procedure known as tuku
wairua was traditionally performed by a tohunga priest, which helped the spirit leave the body so it would not
become restless and wander. In modern times, a relative familiar with the procedure may perform the tuku
wairua; however priests or ministers, generally Christian, may still be called to give the dying person a
blessing. Many Māori people believe that the spirits of the dead watch over the living. For this reason, Māori
families will hold unveiling services and blessings of gravestones of those who have been gone for a year or
longer as a way of remembering and paying respects to those who have died.[4]

Departing place of the spirits

Spirits Bay, believed to be one of the most haunted spots in New Zealand and a famous spot for supernatural
beings,[5] is considered a sacred place in Māori culture because according to legend, spirits of the dead depart
to their ancestral home (Hawaiki) [6] from a pōhutukawa tree at the tip of Cape Reinga. Upon reaching the
tree, the spirits travel down a root to the sea below before uniting with their ancestors.[1]
Hilltop and forest spirits
In Māori traditional folklore, there were
fairy folk and forest spirits. For instance,
Maero is an evil fairy inhabiting forests in
the South Island of New Zealand.[1]
Patupaiarehe are hilltop-living spiritual or
otherworldly beings resembling humans Spirits Bay is considered a sacred place in Māori belief.
in appearance. Turehu are pale-skinned
ghostly people living in woodland
areas.[1]

References
1. Julie Miller; Grant Osborn (October 2005). Ghost Hunt: True New Zealand Ghost Stories (http
s://books.google.com/books?id=YDO9AAAACAAJ). Penguin Group New Zealand, Limited.
ISBN 978-0-7900-1012-0. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
2. Mark Wallbank. Haunted New Zealand Road Trip. New Holland Publishers. p. 190.
ISBN 9781869664640.
3. "Auckland Ghosts" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120117003737/http://www.nzghosts.co.nz/A
uckland.htm). NZGhosts.co.nz. Archived from the original (http://www.nzghosts.co.nz/Auckland.
htm) on 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
4. "View topic-The Process of Maori mourning and grief at the time of death..." (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20130623105600/http://www.newzealandghosts.com/the-process-of-maori-mourning
-and-grief-at-the-time-of-death-t29.html) newzealandghosts.com. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.newzealandghosts.com/the-process-of-maori-mourning-and-grief-at-the-time-of-death-t
29.html) on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
5. New Zealand's spookiest stories - life-style | stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/428566
7/New-Zealands-spookiest-stories) Retrieved January 2012
6. Spirits Bay (Kapowairua) (http://www.itravelnz.com/listing/spirits-bay-kapowairua.html)
Retrieved January 2012

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