December 02, 2013
Ash scattering irks Maori
A law commissioner says there may need to be culturally-sensitive advice given to people about how and where to dispose of a loved one’s ashes.
The commission is reviewing the laws around funerals and burials.
Wayne Mapp says concern about the way people may be dumping granny’s ashes on the landscape or in waterways has been raised by Maori during consultation hui.
"We had noted the issue in our issues paper but it came through very clearly that people want a proper understanding. We've been talking to various local authorities about that. Maybe it could be a sort of code of conduct between local authorities and iwi. So you would expect crematoriums to advise people when they pick up their ashes what really is the expected and the appropriate way to dispose of them," he says.
Mr Mapp says there is a strong push from Maori for more recognition of tikanga in New Zealand law, and there could be a case for giving the Maori land court a role in resolving arguments around burials.
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