Funerals
Caitlin Doughty: Lessons from the crematorium
Kim Hill talks to funeral director and mortician Caitlin Doughty, creator of the web series Ask a Mortician, founder of The Order of the Good Death, and author of the 2014 book Smoke Gets in Your… Audio
Christchurch considers ash-scattering guidelines
Christchurch mourners wanting to scatter the ashes of their dead in Christchurch may soon be directed to designated areas. The city council is considering guidelines after local rūnanga called for...
A natural undertaking
Funeral director Fiona King lifts the lid on the history of funerals in New Zealand and suggests we should be more DIY with taking care of our dead. Video, Audio
New ways needed to deal with the dead
Communities are facing critical challenges over how they deal with the dead and natural burials are not sustainable, a Christchurch sociologist says. Video
Fijian photographer beaten by soldiers in 2007 dies
A Fijian photographer who was left bedridden after being assaulted by soldiers in 2007 has died and is being farewelled today at a funeral in Fiji. Audio
Iwi debate burial recommendations
A Law Commission recommendation for bereaved whānau to appoint someone to speak on behalf of the deceased person has received a mixed response from iwi. Audio
Funeral industry is set for a major shake-up
The funeral industry is set for a major shake-up under a host of recommendations on how New Zealanders should be laid to rest. Audio
Relaxing the rules on funerals
Being able to be buried on the family farm and making it easier for private companies to run cemeteries and crematoriums are some of recommendations being put forward in a wide-ranging review. Audio
Law Commission says changes needed in funeral services sector
The Law Commission has just tabled a report in parliament; Death, Burial and Cremation: A new law for contemporary New Zealand. The review of the current burial and cremation laws suggests some… Audio
DIY Funerals on the increase
It's Labour Weekend tomorrow and a bit of DIY is on the agenda for many us, but for some that's now stretching as far as making our own coffins. Audio
Dearly Departed - Fancy or Frugal?
Changing funeral traditions - with Katrina Shanks from the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand. Audio
The Everydayness of Death
It's not that death is a taboo subject, it's just that we've been encouraged not to talk about it. With Dr John Troyer from the University of Bath's Centre for Death and Society. Audio
The Coffin Club - Dennis Beach
Death, like taxes, is inevitable - or so the saying goes - but when it comes suddenly and out of the blue those left behind can be left in the dark about what to do. Preparation for the inevitable has… Audio
Funeral director who donated his business to charity
Greg Brownless has a diverse CV, which includes school teaching, working as a Contiki tour guide in Europe, and a serving on his local city council in Tauranga. He then started his own… Audio
