Ake Ake Shrouds

12/04/2026

The burial laws say one thing, but imagine if you broke them and could choose anywhere on the planet (or even off planet) for your grave site. No holds barred, nothing is impossible. Where will your grave site be?

I'll go first, bury me in a sand dune by a wild open ocean beach in Aotearoa.

10/04/2026

This is a very interesting article about a real issue we have in Aotearoa. There is increasing pressure on land use for burials and some cemeteries are running out of space. This is because we operate on a system of selling plots in perpetuity. But a natural burial offers, in theory, an alternative system of renewable or successive sites. In a natural burial decomposition occurs faster, meaning the site can potentially be reused. This doesn't necessarily mean taking out remains of the initial occupant, but using the space that eventually becomes available, as their body 'disappears', for family members to be buried in in the future. For this to happen there not only needs to be a change in the sale of plot system but a brave shift in mindset.
Would you consider using a pre-loved grave site, or would you lose the plot?

New Zealand's death rate is increasing as the population ages, but some cemeteries are approaching capacity and new ones are harder to find, writes Tina Morrison.

09/04/2026

Our group of gardening vollies spent a morning at the incredible Admiral Gardens, Rēkohu. Planted and lovingly cared for by Lois Croon, it takes dedication and forward thinking to establish something so diverse in this Chatham Island environment. We weeded the Forget-me-not beds, pulled out a lot of nightshade, and threw sheep poo around trees. But the best thing was when Lois gave us a tour, and shared her stories of this unique and beautiful whenua.

04/04/2026

I'm on Rēkohu, Chatham Island for the next few days. Get ready for a photo drop because it's incredibly beautiful here. I came with a group of strangers as a volunteer gardener, am meeting some of the locals, eating the freshest kai moana and getting a very privileged insight into life here on this remote island. Feeling very blessed 🙏💚

02/04/2026

Are you asking yourself "what is the most eco friendly way to do funerals? If yes, then perhaps you're ready to dig a little deeper into death care sustainability. Join me at in April for a presentation and workshop, with time for discussion and even some creativity. I'll be sharing information on the environmental impact of the various funeral options available to us in Aotearoa including natural burial, water cremation and of course, shrouding. Plus other ideas on how to reduce your carbon footprint. With this information, I hope you'll come away feeling empowered to plan a funeral that fits with your own values and beliefs. Funerals shouldn't cost us the earth. $35 pp, booking essential with Humanitix. Link in bio or DM me for more details.

26/03/2026

When conventional and natural cemeteries look so different you might be asking yourself "how can I find and memorialise my loved one when there's no headstone"? Or "How can I pay respect properly if I can't leave tributes?". Each natural burial ground will have it's own policy but for the most part, the regulations say that markers and tributes should be kept to a minimum, they must be made of natural materials and be compostable because they need to add and not detract from the natural ecosystem. Instead of marble headstones and plastic tributes there might be a small wooden peg or GPS location to mark the gravesite. Some cemeteries may allow a wooden carving or stone tribute. You can pick and bring real flowers instead of plastic, or perhaps make a wreath made of vines, decorated with shells etc. Or embroider your message of love on a woollen heart. Let your creativity soar. And most will offer the opportunity to plant a young native tree, that grows taller as your grief grows smaller. The point is, moving away from man made memorials doesn't mean you can't find your loved one amongst the bush, it doesn't mean you can't go there and remember them with ritual. What it does offer is a reinterpretation of the conventional graveyard. It suggests a cultural shift away from memorial attachment to a place. It strengthens ritual and brings mindfulness and intent to the process. People do grief differently in a natural burial.

25/03/2026

“Living while dying, grieving while anticipating, good days and appalling days, happiness and despair, all co-exist quite comfortably within te ao Māori.” — Jacquie Kidd, on how whakapapa has guided her since she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
🔗 https://shorturl.at/JaHGW

25/03/2026

I'm a bit of a podcast newbie, but here's my first crack at it with Alina from Final Farewell NZ. It's also available on Final Farewell website or Spotify.

A shroud is more than fabric — it’s a final embrace. Karen’s work with Ake Ake Shrouds helps families honour their loved ones with beauty, sustainability, an...