Tū-pāhau

Tū-pāhau is a Māori term referring to a specific type of burial platform, particularly in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. These platforms were often elevated and located in significant or prominent places. The placement of remains on a tū-pāhau was a customary practice used to show respect for the deceased, particularly individuals of high rank or importance within the community. The term encompasses not only the physical structure but also the associated protocols and spiritual significance surrounding the practice. The tū-pāhau allowed the remains to decompose naturally, often exposed to the elements, a process deeply connected to Māori spiritual beliefs about the cyclical nature of life and death. The bones were often collected later for final burial or kept as relics, imbued with the mana (prestige, power) of the deceased.