Healing ‘still on hold’ in Level 3

WHILE Alert Level 3 is a step in the right direction for funerals and tangihanga ceremonies, saying goodbye is still on hold for the bereaved, particularly Maori, a Dunedin leader says.

Up to 10 people can view a deceased person at a funeral home and attend a burial or cremation during Level 3.

For Maori, though, the restrictions still prevent the natural expression of grief, Otakou marae upoko Edward Ellison says.

One of the key elements of tangihanga was people coming and going, to support the whanau and share stories about the person, Mr Ellison said.

‘‘Tangis are an expression where people come together in large numbers.

‘‘The healing is still on hold at Level 3. You still can’t sleep over, you can’t visit, you can’t have it at a marae.

‘‘It’s better than Level 4, but if people hear about a tangi they will go.’’

Inspector Damion Rangitutia confirmed police attended a tangi in Dunedin on Thursday.

It is believed more than 10 people attended.

Insp Rangitutia cited privacy in declining to say who the tangi was for.

‘‘A small number of Dunedin police staff from our Maori and Pacific ethnic services team were in attendance at the funeral in a liaison capacity,’’ he said.

‘‘A small number of bubbles attended the funeral and they were given advice on staying in their bubble.’’

Also on Thursday, about 100 people attended a tangi in Christchurch to farewell wellknown marae speaker Jimmy Brennan.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said yesterday it was ‘‘really disappointing’’ the numbers attending were so high and said the rules were in place for good public health reasons.

He urged people to stick to the rules, although he said he believed police would take a compassionate view.

Campbell and Sons Funeral

Services managing director Clark Campbell said the company had held one funeral since Level 3 began, and a group of 10 mourners had attended.

‘‘I think they were pleased they could attend, but it was very hard, having to choose who could go.’’

Gillions Funeral Services business manager Elizabeth Goodyear said being able to livestream services had made a difference, but Level 3 was still not ideal for the bereaved.

‘‘We’re waiting to see what Level 2 this time around will look like for funerals.’’