Karanga, Hongi, and Manuhiri Arrival at a Tangihanga

The Three Acts of Arrival

When a visiting group (manuhiri) arrives at a marae during a tangihanga, three interconnected ceremonies govern the transition from outsider to welcomed guest: the karanga, the walk onto the marae ātea, and the hongi. Each has a specific spiritual function. Together, they form the pōwhiri — the formal welcome that allows the living to safely enter the tapu space where the tūpāpaku lies.

The Karanga: The Voice That Opens the Way

The karanga is a long, piercing ceremonial call performed exclusively by women. It is not a song, not a speech, and not a greeting in any ordinary sense. It is a spiritual invocation that opens the pathway between the host people and the arriving visitors, simultaneously acknowledging the dead, the ancestors, and the living.

The call begins from the host side. A kuia (female elder) of the tangata whenua steps forward and releases the first karanga — a sustained, rising call that carries across the marae grounds. The call addresses the deceased by name, acknowledges the arriving delegation, and invites the manuhiri to step forward.

If the visiting group has a kaikaranga (a woman trained in the art of calling), she responds with her own karanga while the group begins to move. The two voices weave back and forth — the host calling the visitors in, the visitor acknowledging the dead and the land.

The karanga finds its origin in the mythological journey of Tawhaki. When Urutonga heard the bones of her deceased husband rattle in the rafters, she released a piercing call and lament to guide his spirit safely to her side. Every karanga at a tangihanga echoes that original act.

How Manuhiri Enter

Visitors do not walk onto a marae individually. They gather at the waharoa (entrance gate) and form a delegation. When the karanga begins, the group moves forward slowly and in formation:

• Women lead. Elder women and the kaikaranga walk at the very front. Men follow behind and to the sides.
• Walk slowly, heads slightly bowed. This is not a casual stroll. The pace is measured and deliberate.
• Pause halfway. Many marae observe a moment of silence in the middle of the courtyard. The group stops briefly to acknowledge the ancestors and the deceased.
• No talking, no phones, no cameras. The karanga is the only voice. The walk is silent.

Once the group reaches the wharenui, shoes are removed at the door and the manuhiri take their seats as directed by the hosts. The formal whaikōrero (speeches) follow.

The Hongi: Sharing the Breath of Life

After the speeches and waiata are complete, the hosts invite the visitors to stand for the harirū and hongi. This is the physical greeting that marks the formal acceptance of the manuhiri into the tangihanga community.

The hongi involves:

1. A firm handshake (harirū)
2. A gentle pressing together of noses and foreheads, twice

The nose press shares the breath of life (te hā o te ora) between the two people. It is intimate, unhurried, and performed with deliberate slowness. Rushing through a hongi is disrespectful.

Practical tips:

• Remove glasses and hats before the hongi line. Push them up or hand them to someone nearby.
• Close your eyes if it helps you focus. Many experienced hongi practitioners do.
• The press is gentle. You are touching foreheads and noses, not headbutting.
• Two presses is standard, though some regions observe a single press.

If you are not comfortable with the hongi, a firm handshake accompanied by a slight bow of the head is acceptable. Nobody will force the nose press. But for those who can receive it, the hongi is one of the most profound acts of connection in te ao Māori — two strangers sharing breath in the presence of the dead.

After the Hongi

Once the greeting line is complete, the formal pōwhiri is finished. The visiting group is now part of the tangihanga. They are no longer manuhiri in the ceremonial sense — they belong to the community of mourners. The hosts will invite everyone to the wharekai (dining hall) for food, beginning with a karakia before the meal.

From this point, visitors can move freely between the wharenui and the wharekai. They can approach the casket, speak to the deceased, comfort the whānau pani, and participate in the evening karakia and vigil.

Our Māori Tangihanga Guide walks through every stage of the pōwhiri in detail, including the karanga, walking protocols, and hongi technique — so you can arrive at the marae with understanding rather than anxiety.