We want to send their spirit back to Hawaiki in which we believe to be the final resting place for their spirit. This tradition is very common and a strong tradition we still hold fast to within our Māoritanga (Māori Culture). Even though we live in a society that is so advanced, this is one tradition that I believe won't be lost and forgotten within my people and culture. In comparison to our religious beliefs and rituals, we too also uphold values of kotahitanga (stand as one), whanaungatanga (family-oriented), tautoko (support), and aroha (love). All of these define what type of people we are. Māori people and other Polynesian cultures are renown for being strong, caring, and loving to others. I was surrounded by these values my whole life and I also believe we are just accustomed to making sure we stick together and unite as one. I love meeting new people and I think it is easy for others to approach me because I believe in these values. In high school, these were the core values and it paid off because I now have life long friends that will always be by my side because of school instilling it into us.
I mentioned earlier about how my culture is rich in song and performing arts called Kapa Haka and the concept of leadership comes into play with it. There is a male and female leader that leads the group and queues them in when needed during singing. It is a way to showcase our heritage and culture in a way that is so diverse from other cultures. Being the leader of the group, you automatically stand out from others and typically the one who is firm, strong, and a great performer. I had been a leader of the group before and it was something that I can say I was proud of!.
One holiday we custom is celebrating the Māori New Year which is called Matariki. This is a cluster of stars called the pleiades that show one a year during late May to early June. It is a time where we remember the dead and celebrate new life; however, it also is a time where we harvest crops and gather food to feast on.
