Upholding Tikanga: The Importance of Returning Whenua to the Land

Writing for The Spinoff on 3 August 2026, Ātea editor Liam Rātana shared the deeply personal and cultural significance of tikanga Māori regarding the whenua, or placenta. Rātana detailed how he and his fiancée prepared for their son’s birth by attending a hapūtanga wānanga, a full-day antenatal course grounded in Māori traditions. During the wānanga, the couple explored the tapu nature of the placenta, which is viewed in te ao Māori as the provider of life within te whare tangata. Facilitated by Māori midwives, the course encouraged parents to reclaim agency over how the whenua is handled. As part of this kaupapa, Rātana and his partner crafted a clay uku, or traditional vessel, intended to hold the placenta for eventual burial. Rātana explained that the word whenua refers to both the land and the placenta, reflecting a spiritual bond. The practice of burying the placenta in a meaningful location—often where whānau have ancestral ties—serves to anchor a child’s connection to their heritage and the earth. He noted that while other cultures may utilize the placenta for health supplements, the Māori tradition focus remains on maintaining its mauri and returning it to the soil. Despite an unexpected premature birth at home that saw their son admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Auckland Hospital, the family remained committed to their plan. Even when medical necessity required the placenta to be tested for health insights, Rātana emphasized the importance of ensuring the whenua was eventually returned to the whānau. This advocacy highlights the ongoing work of Māori health leaders to ensure that clinical environments respect and accommodate indigenous spiritual practices.