Death is a global event, it will happen to all of us and how we respond to the thought of death is specific and influenced by our cultural worlds (Nikora, LW , Masters-Awatere, B. and Te Awekotuku, N, 2012). Māori often act as if Tangihanga is one of the only things they own that has not changed over time and tend to assert that it is one of the customs that belongs absolutely and only to them. to them. Many aspects of the ceremony have changed. The religious aspects have been replaced by Christian ceremonies, but the fundamental elements of the gathering remain (Oppenheim, 1973). This essay will examine the Māori cultural system of death, also identified as Tangihanga, and how the meaning of death has changed over time due to the influence of social, economic and spiritual factors. Tangihanga, also known as Tangi or funeral ceremony, is a funeral ceremony. continuing institution for the Māori people who mourn the death of a deceased person. There are a number of crucial traditions, customs and concepts involved in Tangihanga, relating to both the physical and theoretical worlds (Barlow, 1991). When it comes to tangihanga, it is believed to provide a culturally safe environment with free, open, and shared expression of grief and sorrow that is considered to help heal the individuals involved. We must also remember that tangi is not only a time of sadness, it is also a time of rediscovery of family ties, reestablishing tribal roots and finding mutual strength (Ngata, 1987; Tangaroa, 1988) . The dead play a large role in the Māori world and are recognized at every Māori gathering (Salmond, 1975). Traditional death rituals and pr...... middle of paper ......td.Ngata , P. (1987). Death, dying and grief, a Māori perspective. In NZ Health, The Undiscovered'd Country: Customs of New Zealand cultural and ethnic groups regarding death and dying (pp. 5-15). Wellington, New Zealand: Government Printing Office. Nikora, L.W., Masters-Awatere, B. and Te Awekotuku, N. (2012). Final arrangements after death: Māori indigenous decision-making and Tangi. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 22(5), 400-413. doi:10.1002/casp.2112Oppenheim, RS (1973). Maori death customs. Wellington, New Zealand: AH and AWReed LTD. Salmond, A. (1975). Hui: A study of Maori ceremonial gatherings. Auckland, New Zealand Tangaroa, N. (1988). Tangihanga. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Amalgamated Engineers Union Voyković, AA (1981). Ngā Roimata o Hine-nui-te-Pō: Death in Māori life. University of Otago, New Zealand