A cultural perspective on death & farewells this Dying Matters Week

There is no single right way to farewell someone. Across Aotearoa’s many cultures and faiths, death is met with its own rituals, timelines, and traditions, each shaped by belief, whakapapa, and generations of practice. This Dying Matters Week, we’re taking a moment to explore some of these different cultural perspectives, and the wisdom they offer on how we grieve, remember, and let go.

In Te Ao Māori, tangihanga can unfold over several days, with the tūpāpaku rarely left alone as whānau gather to grieve, share stories, and farewell them together on the marae. In Hinduism, death is understood as part of an ongoing cycle, with cremation traditionally taking place as soon as possible and specific rituals guiding the soul’s journey onward. Islamic tradition calls for burial to happen quickly, usually within 24 hours, with the body washed and shrouded with great care. Christian, Catholic, Sikh, and Buddhist traditions each carry their own customs too, from last rites and prayer to specific practices around the body and mourning period.