April 12, 2016
Laws around tupapaku review
The Maori affairs select committee has launched an inquiry into how families are treated with regard to tupapaku.
It's responding to concerns raised by many whanau regarding access to and management of the bodies of their deceased whanau members.
Committee chair Tutehounuku Korako, said the committee hopes whanau will share their stories with the committee.
It will investigate the current powers and practice of pathologists, coroners, police and funeral directors and other relevant agencies in allowing, or not allowing, whanau to view and/or remain with tupapaku.
It will consider how the powers and practice of those people can be improved to allow more timely release of tupapaku into whanau custody.
Cultural guidelines, tikanga Maori, and legal requirements around the preservation and management of tupapaku, funeral practices, burial and cremation will all come under scrutiny.
So will the experiences of whanau in having tupapaku returned to Aotearoa where a whanau member has died overseas, particularly Australia
Submissions are open until the end of June.
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