A rāhui was not put in place at Pilot Bay beach after a death because the body had been in the water for only a short time.
A rāhui has not been placed on Mount Maunganui’s Pilot Bay following a water-related death.
A person was pulled from the water unresponsive and emergency services were notified just before 8.20am on Thursday.
“They were only in the water a short time, so the kaumātua did not think it was appropriate,” Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust chief executive Paora Stanley said today.
Generally, a rāhui was put in place when a person died in a body of water and was left there for a significant time, Stanley said.
“It allows the ocean to go through a cleansing cycle, so you’re not eating something that has eaten a human body,” he said.
Mauao Adventures, which usually operates in Pilot Bay, had decided to relocate temporarily to McLarens Falls in anticipation of a rāhui being put in place.
Owner-operator Porina Whetu McLeod said iwi told her this was not the case anymore.
“It is something we usually do out of respect, but we will return this morning,” McLeod said.
Hato Hone St John was notified of an incident near The Mall, Mount Maunganui, but they said they could not comment further.
The matter had been referred to the coroner and the police could not share any further information, a police spokesperson said.
Emergency services were called to the Bay of Plenty beach on Saturday.