It is well worth reading this article about the fighting over the body of a Maori man who died suddenly . He lived in Christchurch, with his partner of 20 years, yet his whanau (wider family) took his body against her wishes, and a court order, to be buried in Bay of Plenty, in the north island. This they justified on Maori cultural rites, that he should be buried with his family.
The police never enforced the court order.
It will give you feel for an aspect of living here.
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The passage of time in Wellington and elsewhere
