Ko te parekawakawa te tohu o te tangihanga, o te uhunga, o te mate, e kitea whānuitia ana i runga i ngā marae o Ngāti Maniapoto me ngētehi atu iwi. Heoi anō, e mōhio rānei ana tātou ki tōna takenga mai? Ki ngā take e mau ana ia ki te tangihanga i ngā wā o mua, i ngēnei rā hoki?
Koinei ngā tino whāinga o tēnei whakatewhatewha. He titiro ki ngā tikanga me ngā whakapono e pā ana ki te parekawakawa, tōna kawenga i te tangihanga, tae atu ki ngā rākau i whakamahia. Ko te ao atua, te ao wairua, me te ao kikokiko nei i āta rangahaua, kia whai māramatanga tēnei kaupapa, me te take e noho ana te parekawakawa hei tohu i te mate ki roto o Ngāti Maniapoto me ngētehi atu iwi o te motu.
The parekawakawa is a notable symbol of mourning throughout the iwi of Aotearoa. The tikanga of bearing fragrant foliage at tangihanga continues today and remains strong, on the marae oaware of its origins? Why was it worn at tangihanga in the past and why it is being continued today?
The aims of this study are to investigate this tikanga, by exploring both its current and earlier use. The applied, spiritual, f Ngāti Maniapoto, among others. However, are we mental and emotional functions, aspects and beliefs associated with parekawakawa are also examined to unearth the reasons it has become a symbol of death and mourning to Ngāti Maniapoto and other iwi.