Tāria Taku Moko Māori ki ngā Kiriata o te Wā: How is Tikanga Māori Considered Through the Portrayal of Tangihanga in Māori Film?

Abstract

This exegesis examines how tikanga Māori (customary protocol) is depicted and considered in cinematic portrayals of tangihanga (Māori funerals) in Māori film and considers the ethical responsibilities of Māori filmmakers in portraying such sacred rituals. By applying the methodological process of Kaupapa Māori Filmmaking to the depiction of tangihanga in Māori films, this research emphasises the ethical imperative for Māori filmmakers to approach such representations with cultural authenticity, humility, whanaungatanga (kinship), and accountability. It has been argued that tangihanga are not simply narrative devices in cinema but tapu rituals embedded in tikanga and whakapapa (genealogy). Kaupapa Māori Filmmaking provides the theoretical foundation for viewing these depictions as culturally sovereign acts, rather than mere cinematic choices. In this way, both Fourth Cinema and Kaupapa Māori theory reinforce the notion that Indigenous ethics and knowledge systems must guide Indigenous representation.