When Maori people gather for a Hui, they have immediate access to an ancestral world which remains a living reality for as long as the hui lasts. Hui incorporate all Maori ceremonial gatherings- openings of new marae, tangihanga (funerals), hurahanga kohatu (unveilings), birthdays and anniversaries, and tribal policy making. This book introduces us to all aspects of the hui and its significance to Maori. It is a definitive study of ceremonial gatherings and the rituals that are the life blood of the marae.