death WORKS NZ

27/03/2026

DEATH NEWS – EP6: Pet Memorial Month 🐾

If you’ve ever loved a pet, then this kōrero is for you.

For a lot of us, me included, our pets are more than animals. They are family.

It's the way they witness our lives without judgment, without expectation, their quiet company, their unconditional love, their routines that shape our days, that make their death feel so hard!

In this episode, I sit down with Simone from Soul Friend Pet Cremations, who has created a peaceful, secluded rural space where we can say goodbye to our pets in our own time and in our own way.

Simone believes in having the option for personalisation just as much as I do, as she believes we should have the chance to say goodbye and honour the same way we would our human family.

I'd like to thank the toy dog, Fluffy, for being an obedient boy!
Q: Would you have a celebrant officiate a pet funeral?

26/03/2026

At a funeral recently, I was reminded of my love for this poem.📜

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVqmzgTAmR-/?igsh=MWFobG52NGtmdjg4aA==

22/03/2026

March is Pet Memorial Month, and I've been reflecting on the death of my Frenchie Princess Charlotte, aka Lotte. 🐾

I was underprepared and surprised by the depth and length of my grief over her absence in my life, and would compare it to the death of a human. Grief doesn’t rank relationships by category or species; it responds to attachment, meaning, and emotional investment.

I was going to cut out my rambling on at the end, but this moment was way too cute not to share! 🥰

22/03/2026

March is Pet Memorial month, for some of our pets are family, our fur babies, offering unconditional love, no judgment, daily companionship, and even emotional support. For some, the death of a pet can be as significant as a human death. 🐾

March is Pet Memorial Month, a reminder to honor the beloved pets we have loved and lost. ❤️ 🐶

They were family, best friends, and loyal companions who made our days brighter in countless ways.

Even though they are gone, the love and memories they gave us stay with us always. This month, we remember them with gratitude, love, and hearts full of cherished moments.

20/03/2026

Have you heard of Go With Grace?

They're an incredibly valuable platform focused on end-of-life planning, death literacy, and grief support. Through https://gowithgrace.nz, you can find wonderful resources and tools designed to help navigate one of life’s hardest times.

Go With Grace is an online directory, sharing events and workshops around NZ, Co-Hosts of Dying Matters Week and the Compassionate Communities Hui, and is now bringing us podcasts - all this is available to help us shift the conversation around death in Aotearoa.

I was genuinely honoured to be interviewed by the compassionate founder, Katy Mandeno, and I’m excited to share our beautiful kōrero with you:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5CuYsAUnN7ObnXXPVi9WZ5?si=Ghl00IN7RxykCQNv8XVhsQ.

13/03/2026

Donna Ashworth is a personal favourite of mine for funeral poems.📖

12/03/2026

DEATH NEWS – EP4: Not every cemetery looks like rows of headstones.

I met with Jean Hera from Natural Burial Manawatū, who has been working with Palmerston North City Council and Rangitāne towards the newly allocated Ashhurst land for natural burials in our region.

It’s a peaceful place, already home to large tōtara trees and a natural spring. The landscape feels calm and connected to Mother Nature/Papatūānuku.

While an official opening date hasn’t been set yet, it’s an exciting step toward offering a more natural, eco-friendly burial option in Manawatū.

A gentle reminder about how we return to the earth impacts the whenua.

11/03/2026

Living with cancer 🎗️

What if you were given early notice that your days were numbered?

Full story ⬇

01/03/2026

I believe a funeral is of the utmost importance; it's one of life's last honours, and it should be a genuine representation of your loved ones’ wishes and the life they lived. As your Celebrant, we will go on a short, but extremely meaningful journey together. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you and your whānau/family to create a meaningful ceremony that honours the importance of your loved one’s final farewell.

I write a ceremony that beautifully captures their essence and celebrates their unique life. A personalised ceremony is one that highlights ones’ achievements, attributes, values, and beliefs. My background is in Event Management, and I have been an Independent Celebrant for 8 years. I have studied with The Celebrant School and Toastmasters NZ. I’m committed to fulfilling my role with both compassion and professionalism.

25/02/2026

DEATH NEWS - EP4: Dying isn’t just medical, it’s spiritual too.

I sat down with a thoughtful advocate for spiritual well-being, Associate Professor Richard Egan from the University of Otago’s Dunedin School of Medicine.

Richard is a public health researcher exploring and teaching spirituality in healthcare, referring to himself as "spiritual but not religious", holding a BA (Hons), PhD, Diploma in Public Health, MPhil, and Diploma in Teaching, with an academic background spanning theology, religious studies, literature, and public health.

His mahi reminds us that caring for people at the end of life means caring for the whole person.

24/02/2026

Even I can't tell if my eyes are closed or if I'm just reading an email, but regardless, the photo of my laptop nicely sums up the nature of my mahi.