TY - JOUR
T1 - ‘The most difficult time of my life’ or ‘COVID’s gift to me’? Differential experiences of COVID-19 funerary restrictions in Aotearoa New Zealand
AU - Long, Nicholas J.
AU - Tunufa’i, Laumua
AU - Aikman, Pounamu Jade
AU - Appleton, Nayantara Sheoran
AU - Davies, Sharyn Graham
AU - Deckert, Antje
AU - Fehoko, Edmond
AU - Holroyd, Eleanor
AU - Jivraj, Naseem
AU - Laws, Megan
AU - Martin-Anatias, Nelly
AU - Pukepuke, Reegan
AU - Roguski, Michael
AU - Simpson, Nikita
AU - Sterling, Rogena
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In 2020, the government of Aotearoa New Zealand imposed some of the most stringent funerary restrictions in the world as part of its efforts to eliminate COVID-19. This article explores how people experienced this situation, asking why restrictions that some described as precipitating ‘the most difficult time of their lives’ were described by others as a ‘relief’, ‘blessing’, or ‘gift’. Much existing literature frames funerary restrictions as a distressing assault upon established ways of grieving to which mourners must try to adapt–and in Aotearoa, both the stringency of the restrictions and the means by which they had been imposed did lead to many people finding them challenging. However, for those with ambivalent pre-existing feelings regarding their funerary traditions–such as many in the Samoan diaspora–COVID-19 restrictions afforded both a reprieve from burdensome practices and a much-welcomed opportunity to reimagine their traditions. Funerary restrictions, though disruptive, are thereby shown to have generative potential.
AB - In 2020, the government of Aotearoa New Zealand imposed some of the most stringent funerary restrictions in the world as part of its efforts to eliminate COVID-19. This article explores how people experienced this situation, asking why restrictions that some described as precipitating ‘the most difficult time of their lives’ were described by others as a ‘relief’, ‘blessing’, or ‘gift’. Much existing literature frames funerary restrictions as a distressing assault upon established ways of grieving to which mourners must try to adapt–and in Aotearoa, both the stringency of the restrictions and the means by which they had been imposed did lead to many people finding them challenging. However, for those with ambivalent pre-existing feelings regarding their funerary traditions–such as many in the Samoan diaspora–COVID-19 restrictions afforded both a reprieve from burdensome practices and a much-welcomed opportunity to reimagine their traditions. Funerary restrictions, though disruptive, are thereby shown to have generative potential.
KW - coronavirus
KW - death
KW - funerals
KW - lockdown
KW - pandemic
KW - Samoans
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128448951&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13576275.2022.2049527
DO - 10.1080/13576275.2022.2049527
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85128448951
SN - 1357-6275
VL - 27
JO - Mortality
JF - Mortality
IS - 4
ER -