After a hiker died on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in March, a rāhui was put in place by local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro from March 22 to March 26, and hikers were asked to consider alternative walking routes.

A man in his 50s collapsed while walking the crossing. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he died a short time later. 

A rāhui is a common Māori custom and is a physical and spiritual protection mechanism. By temporarily prohibiting people from accessing the area where a person has passed, it provides time for tapu (sacredness) to dissipate. 

Rāhui are often put in place when a person has died in Aotearoa’s outdoors. The kaitiaki (guardians) of the area – in this case, the local iwi – enforce it in the spirit of kaitiakitanga (protecting and conserving the natural landscape).

Time is provided for healing, respect is given to the grieving whānau, and the natural elements are able to recover from the tragedy.