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March 14, 2026
#weekend #kaupapa: Waatea Question of the Day sparks national debate on scattering ashes in waterways
Matthew Tukaki
Posted On March 14, 2026
A discussion about tikanga, grief, and the protection of waterways has sparked one of the largest responses ever seen to Radio Waatea’s #QuestionOfTheDay, with more than 100,000 people engaging across Facebook, TikTok and other Waatea platforms.
The question asked listeners and followers whether scattering human ashes in rivers and lakes should be discouraged or restricted, given that waterways are widely regarded as taonga within te ao Māori.
The response was overwhelming.
Across the thousands of comments and reactions, roughly two-thirds of respondents indicated they believe ashes should not be scattered in rivers and lakes, while others were uncertain or supported the practice, particularly when it reflects the final wishes of loved ones who felt a deep connection to a particular place.
The discussion follows growing public attention to the issue, highlighted in recent reporting on concerns raised about the cultural and environmental implications of scattering ashes on land and waterways.
The debate intensified after respected Māori leader Dame Naida Glavish spoke publicly about the need for greater awareness of tikanga and the potential impacts on the mauri of waterways when ashes are dispersed without consultation or understanding.
Many respondents to Waatea’s question echoed those concerns, saying waterways sustain communities and should be treated with the highest level of respect.
One commenter reflected on advice once given by a kaumātua who had discussed the issue with migrant communities.
“My kaumātua once told me when he was speaking with the Indian population to stop doing it in our awa and if they wanted to go home and do it in their awa, that was fine. His thinking was our rivers and lakes are sacred to us. They sustain and feed us and are living. Mixing the living and the dead, especially those unknown to the awa, is a no-no.”
Others framed the debate around the importance of protecting waterways that are also used for food gathering, swimming, and recreation.
“Water is life. Must be respected. Is scattering human ashes respecting the wai?” another respondent asked.
Several contributors also pointed to the practical consequences for communities who depend on rivers and lakes for kai and cultural practices, noting that some iwi have historically discouraged the practice for this reason.
Yet the discussion also revealed strong feelings from those who believe scattering ashes can reflect a natural return to the environment.
One commenter wrote that cremated remains should not automatically be viewed as harmful.
“Our remains are not toxic. They provide nourishment to new life, completing the cycle. I have cared for the wai my whole life. It has given me life and provided me a home. I will return to the wai where I can become part of the system that gave me life.”
The same contributor argued that blanket restrictions could undermine the ability of iwi and individuals to determine their own practices on their own whenua.
Others raised theological and tikanga-based arguments about whether cremation itself changes the spiritual state of remains.
One comment referenced traditional Māori concepts of tapu and noa, noting that water, fire and food have historically been used to remove tapu. From that perspective, the act of cremation through fire could render ashes spiritually neutral, raising questions about whether dispersing them in water would carry spiritual consequences.
For some respondents, the issue was less about doctrine and more about grief and personal experience.
One person shared that they had scattered a sibling’s ashes at sea to honour their wishes, only later learning that the decision had offended some people in the community.
“When grief hits, autopilot turns on. You’re trying to do your best for the person you loved.”
Despite the differing views, a common theme emerged throughout the discussion: the need for greater cultural understanding and clearer guidance.
Many respondents agreed with Dame Naida Glavish that public education and stronger rules may be necessary to ensure tikanga Māori is respected, particularly when actions affect shared spaces such as rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.
Others suggested the solution lies not in national bans but in iwi-led approaches that allow communities to set their own expectations for their own waterways.
The sheer scale of the response has underscored just how deeply the issue resonates.
For Radio Waatea, the engagement has been unprecedented, with tens of thousands of reactions, comments and shares across platforms, making it the most widely discussed Question of the Day since the series began.
The debate highlights a growing conversation across Aotearoa about how modern practices intersect with tikanga Māori, environmental stewardship, and the rights of communities to protect the mauri of the places that sustain them.
As the discussion continues, one point remains clear: for many across the motu, waterways are far more than landscapes. They are living taonga whose protection sits at the heart of identity, culture, and whakapapa.
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