Death Cafe Manawatu

17/03/2026

Some convo starters for our toolkit for *life* intergenerational kōrero is so important and checking in to make sure all loved ones are really seen, heard & supported ❤️‍🔥

12/03/2026

🙌 absolutely love this!

03/03/2026

Very insightful 👏❤️‍🔥

22/02/2026

We'll go first! 🤔....
Fearless,
Compassionate,
And .... 'marched to the beat of her own drum' lol

*a fun fact - I've been doing this a little while now but I struggle greatly with my own mortality. I hope composting is here in Aotearoa by the time I'm kicking on 🤞

Tell us in 3 words how you want to be remembered?

12/02/2026

It sure it! Pre planning, recording your wishes and having a kōrero with loved ones is the ultimate way to show you care 🥰🫡

Sure, flowers and candy are nice, but taking the time to plan your end of life so your loved ones don't have to make decisions, is the best gift of all.

09/02/2026

This was something we explored during Dying Matters Week! Really interesting stuff and too many experiences to ignore... When You Die

Scientists know more about our brains, but near-death experiences are still mysterious.

29/01/2026

4 meaningful questions, 4 intro's to deeper conversation 😇

Sometimes, after someone has died, we have questions about them that we regret not asking.
What questions should you ask someone who is getting older or nearing the end of their life? Here are 4 suggestions. Please feel free to add to the list.

26/01/2026

We don’t talk enough about the environmental side of death.
This piece looks at some emerging, earth-friendly ways of returning our bodies to the land — and why these conversations matter!

https://theconversation.com/human-composting-natural-burials-water-cremation-greener-ways-to-go-when-you-die-270969?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2026%202026%20-%203654437331&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20January%2026%202026%20-%203654437331+CID_fd80c3c03c93165e9f69b9430a5969a6&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Human%20composting%20natural%20burials%20water%20cremation%20greener%20ways%20to%20go%20when%20you%20die

25/01/2026

👀... don't miss it when it comes out!

The gang got back together yesterday for a collab filled with deep & meaningfuls, realisations & connection ❤️‍🔥

The soul purpose of DCM is to bring awareness to our current lives, that it is limited, no one knows how long we really have and hopefully we find some sense of community along the way (we sure have a core following now 🥰)

Thank you Aingie & death WORKS NZ for your spotlight, expertise and your always willingness to be open & honestly, approachable and a master of holding space in the sometimes uncomfortable & unknown.

And a huge thank you to Melissa, for jumping 2 feet in on this journey. You add such a value that only YOU could add to this space. I deeply appreciate you taking a seat along side me.

Cafe wouldn't be a thing without our star attendees, the public - you turn up into the unknown and bring energy, share your lived experiences with strangers and truly make DCM what it is. I can't say thank you enough 🥹

If 2026's first meeting is setting the tone for the year, we're in for a goodie 🙌

18/01/2026

🫡💗 Death Wife for life Aingie's latest development for anyone wanting to keep their finger on the pulse. All things local & end-of-life related. Very much looking forward to seeing their series unfold.

In 2026, you can expect Death News, from Death Works - open and honest kōrero/interviews about dying and death from across the motu. Start following, share with friends, and stay tuned!

13/11/2025

Come along to the second workshop to help when planning for passing, the Advanced Care Planning workshop will be starting promptly at 10am and hosted by Melissa Hemi not the hospice this time at Whakapai Hauora chapel on Maxwells line.

Join us for discussion and morning tea

07/11/2025

*REMINDER* this is tomorrow! And yes it's a very last min reminder (sorry) I've been having technical issues with FB which left me without access to any profiles 🥲 resolved now though 🤞

Death Without Debt.

We ran this workshop in 2024 and it was hugely popular, so we're bringing it back for 2025.

Death Without Debt is a national organisation campaigning and educating on funeral debt 'dedicated to creating a future where the cost of dying doesn't add to the burden of grief'. And where 'everyone in New Zealand has the right to an affordable and dignified funeral process.'

WORKSHOPS COVER:

- Funeral planning, wills, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advanced Care Plans, probate
- After-death paperwork requirements and avoiding professional service fees
- Care and transport of the body
- When you need a coffin and when you don’t.
- The pros and cons of cremation vs burial. Alternative and environmental technologies.
- The politics and history of funerals
- Community initiatives and collective action for funeral reform
- And much more . . .

These workshops are usually $40 per person, but RECAP is subsidising this to make it more accessible. Thank you to our varied funders who make this possible.

The cost for the Ashhurst workshop is $10 waged and $5 unwaged. Registrations are essential and can be made at recap.org.nz

Hot drinks and snacks served. BYO lunch.

Presenters: Suzanne Chellius, Rachel Rose and Melissa Hemi.

To learn more: deathwithoutdebt.org.nz