Give feedback on tupapaku inquiry

The Maori affairs select committee is conducting an inquiry into whanau access to, and management of, a tupapaku (body) before a tangi (funeral) and is asking locals to make submissions on this important issue.

Tena ano tatou katoa.

The school holidays have come to an end, and our tamariki are back on the roads and footpaths making their way to and from school, so take care when you are travelling during these busy times and, better yet, try to get walking bus systems going in your area if possible.

Parliament has just finished a recess (break) and it was a good chance for me to get out and about both in Rotorua and around the country.

Every year, as part of the agreement the Maori Party has with National, we have the opportunity to host the Prime Minister for one day showing him around communities he ordinarily wouldn't get to see.

Last week, we headed to Otorohanga and Te Kuiti to get among the people and initiatives happening over there. It was an enjoyable day and we were impressed with what we saw right from Maori trust boards to businesses, to rangatahi who are part of the Tuia programme. They talked about the many positive outcomes achieved by Tuia, through to participating in a bit of line-dancing with the Whanau Ora team from Taumarunui Kokiri Centre. It was an enjoyable day and I appreciated the time we got to spend with the various organisations. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou.

Tupapaku - select committee inquiry

One of the more sensitive matters that I am approached for help with is at times of grief, when there has been a death.

Often it is simply helping a whanau understand the processes that take place, in particular with sudden deaths, or when they have occurred overseas. Assisting a whanau to return a tupapaku from a foreign land is not easy - each country has its own laws that the professionals must abide by.

Here in Aotearoa, we have our own laws which govern tupapaku and at present the Maori affairs select committee is conducting an inquiry into whanau access to and management of tupapaku.

The purpose of this inquiry is to consider what, if any, legislative and/or regulatory changes could be made to ensure best practice for whanau to access and make decisions around the tupapaku of their whanau members.

This will be quite a wide inquiry taking many facets into consideration, and the committee welcomes submissions from the public. If you have any suggestions, or thoughts or recommendations on any aspect around tupapaku, visit this website and read through the terms of reference and how to make a submission - www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission.

- Email feedback to mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz or phone 0508 924 274.