Media Release 18 July 2012

Research on Maori body claims shows possible flaws in arguments over Takamore case.

New Zealand historian at AUT University, Professor Paul Moon, is mid-way through research on the demands made at tangi for the bodies of deceased to be buried in certain locations, and says that the current so-called “body-snatch” case involving the burial of James Takemore might be based on a narrow application of tikanga Maori (Maori values).

“The practice for many decades, he says, “was for demands for bodies to be made, but for the decision on the location for burial to be reached only when a consensus was arrived at by all parties.”

“It seems that traditionally, the purpose of members of the wider whanau demanding that a body be buried elsewhere was less about the status of those making the demnds, and more about the mana of the deceased. To put up a vigorous claim for a body was a show of respect to that person and their whanau.” Professor Moon points out.

Although not wanting to comment specifically on the Takamore case which is currently before the Supreme Court, Professor Moon said that historically, the principle of respect in relations between whanau ultimately was paramount in tussles over where the body of a deceased would be buried.

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