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5207
qualitative
book
Shushan, Gregory, Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions, Oxford University Press, Chapter 4, Te Wharewera's Aunt, Pages Not Specified, 2018
Near-Death Experience in Indigenous Religions, Te Wharewera's Aunt, Chapter 4, 2018
1850
2018
F
Te Wharewera's aunt died and lay in state for a day or two before miraculously reappearing alive but weak on the shore near her village. After recovery, she described leaving her body and traveling north to Te Rerenga Wairua, the sacred Maori departure point for souls at New Zealand's northernmost tip. She descended on a vine to a river where a gigantic bird flew menacingly toward her. Fleeing in terror, she was rescued by an old man who ferried her across in his canoe. On the other side, she found a world strikingly similar to Earth and was welcomed in a village by her deceased father and relatives. Her father inquired about living family members then commanded her return, saying "You must go back to earth, for there is no one now to take care of my grandchild." Her return was mandated by familial duty to her son. Her father warned her not to eat any food in Reinga or she would be unable to return, then rushed her back across the river, giving her two large kumara (sweet potato) roots to plant for her son as proof of her journey. During her perilous return up the cliffside, two infant spirits tried to drag her back down. She threw the kumara at them, and while they scrambled for the otherworldly food, she escaped and flew back to her body. Those who heard her tale firmly believed its truth, with the kumara roots providing physical proof from the land of the dead.
6
Unknown
2
10
15
Suggestive Evidence
3
Dead for one to two days, found alive on shore
Specific journey details, kumara as physical proof, geographic specificity
written_account
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8/9/2025
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