Tag Archive for: natural death

Malcolm Murchie was a long-time Soil & Health member who passed away in June 2017.

National Council member Moko Morris encouraged the whānau Murchie to share the beautiful journey of their father’s tangi with Organic NZ readers, in the hope it will inspire others to maintain rangatiratanga over their loved one’s final journey.

Three of Malcolm’s children, Oriwia, Rehu and Winsome, shared these thoughts.

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First published in Organic NZ Jan/Feb 2018. Photos: Murchie whānau

Dad left instructions in his will:

• Procedures described in Living Legacies by Linda Hannah
• No funeral director
• Wrapped in a sheet and buried on the Rehu-Murchie Whānau Trust property.

Having now read the Living Legacies information on the internet we understand why Dad chose this book. As a whānau we managed to achieve his wishes in an organic process, which developed in a natural and flowing way.

Dad died on 21 June 2017. He was placed in a lounge in his whare for the night. First thing was to wash and dress him. The close contact with our loved one at this time was a healing moment. He was given an overall wash and then rubbed with Skin Kai (a blend of rongoā and oils). Nappies were put on to contain any bodily excretions (there were none during the entire period he was with us). A rolled scarf was used to hold his chin up. The last ritual for the first three nights was to tie the scarf around his head to keep his chin in place and two coins were placed on his eyes to stop them opening.

We knew we had a long journey ahead of us, from Ōtaki to Arowhenua (in South Canterbury). The next day we visited various funeral directors to purchase a body bag to use during the trip. We were informed that:

• what we were doing may be against the law, and
• no cemetery would allow us to inter someone without a coffin.

Finally we were able to source a body bag with handles from an understanding undertaker in Levin, IC Mark, who were non-judgmental and provided us with a body bag, total cost $75.00.

Dad’s mokopuna were taken to Ōtaki beach where they found two driftwood poles that became the handles for the body bag. This became Dad’s vehicle when he was to be moved.

Contact was made with the Arowhenua upoko to ensure that what we planned, a natural burial, was acceptable.

Dad lay at home in Ōtaki for two nights. Manuhiri commented on how natural it was to sit right beside him, and pay their respects with no coffin in the way.

Stage two of the journey was from Ōtaki to Christchurch. We crossed Raukawa Moana on the ferry. They were very accommodating and allowed for whānau to sit in the car with Dad during the crossing. Once we arrived in Picton we checked to ensure everything was in place. The ope split at this time with one group staying with Dad, the other travelling ahead to whakapai te whare in Arowhenua. Dad’s next stop was in Leeston. Whānau had prepared his room for the night by placing ice under a marble slab.

On the morning of 24 June we left for Arowhenua, arriving to a haka powhiri performed by his mokopuna mā. He lay in the whānau whare, Te Wairua Kaimarire, surrounded by his whānau. At night he was placed in the back room of the whare on a camp stretcher that had chilly bins of ice underneath it. Some whānau slept with him there. Each morning he was moved back to the main whare where a blend of coconut, lavender and tea tree oil was rubbed on him. A few drops of tea tree oil were placed in his mouth prior to his scarf being repositioned under his chin to hold his jaw shut. The rubbing on of the oil was an activity shared by whoever was present. His great grandchildren watched and also helped. Any questions they asked were answered openly and honestly.

On 25 June a group of his mokopuna went to dig his grave. Instructions were that the hole was not to be too deep, as Grandad wanted the worms to have easy access. The plan was to have a service followed by the nehu the next morning.

The decision was made to have the service on June 26 at our wharenui, Te Hapa o Niu Tireni. Prior to moving there the last physical process was completed. Dad was oiled and wrapped, mummy style, in two old sheets that had been torn in strips – Dad saw no need for new material to be bought and then wasted. He was then placed on a Pasifika whāriki that had been given at the time of Mum’s takiaue. This whāriki was supposed to go down with Mum but didn’t. It was obviously meant to be used at this time instead.

We gathered at Te Hapa o Niu Tireni, welcomed by whanauka mā ki Arowhenua Pā. More stories were told and waiata sung. Dad’s final journey down the Pā road was assisted by many, who took turns at holding the handles of the body bag. He was lowered down without the body bag, to lie with his wife, Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie in the Arowhenua urupā. The whānau filled the hole in. There was only a slight mound where he was buried. Four months later I have been informed that this mound has since disappeared and the ground is now level.

Dad had a natural burial. The purchase of the body bag was done due to lack of preparation. In future a stretcher, woven from harakeke, will be used. The use of natural oils replaced the need for embalming. He was returned to Papatuānuku with minimum environmental impact. The cost for his burial was $75.00. Burial on the Rehu-Murchie whānau whenua was unable to be done as the property is criss-crossed by underground streams.

The process from beginning to end was open. Everyone was given the opportunity to ask questions and receive open and honest answers. His many mokopuna had the opportunity to play an active part in caring for their loved one. The fact that death is part of life was made more obvious as each person contributed to the process.

The healing part of the process started at its onset. Through holding, washing, oiling, travelling with Dad and final preparations for burial, everyone involved was able to grieve whenever they needed to. The right thing to do seemed to materialise along the way. Stories shared and waiata sung were also part of the healing process, and allowed us to honour our father in the way we loved him. One of his mokopuna said it was the ‘coolest tangi’ and we agree.

Ngā kupu Māori – Māori words

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