Ngā Pou Herenga : The End of Life & Funeral Guides Collective

26/05/2026

Here's a great opportunity for those interested in palliative care, Māori health, nutrition, culture, and compassionate care practices 🌿

Cultural Significance of Nutrition in Palliative Care
Presented by Prof Lisa Te Morenga, Professor of Māori Health at Massey University

🗓 Thursday 4 June 2026
⏰ 7.30am – 8.30am

Access the lecture information, registration link and resources here:
https://www.hospice.org.nz/palliative_care_lecture_series

You can also view previous lectures here:
https://myhealthhub.co.nz/hospice/

We are delighted to present the Palliative Care Lecture Series in 2026. A monthly webinar featuring guest speakers. This education opportunity is designed for healthcare professionals with an interest in palliative care.

16/05/2026

This Hospice Awareness Week, we want to acknowledge and show our deep support for the incredible mahi hospices across Aotearoa do every single day. 💚

Hospice care is so much more than end-of-life care. It is wraparound love, compassion, dignity, comfort, and connection for people and their whānau during some of life’s hardest moments. Hospice teams walk alongside families not only through dying, but through grief, fear, uncertainty, and love.

Everything hospice provides is free to patients and whānau — but it is not free to provide. At a time when demand for palliative care continues to grow, hospices are facing increasing pressure and funding challenges across the country.

We stand with those advocating for fair, sustainable support for hospice services so that everyone in Aotearoa can access compassionate end-of-life care when they need it most.

Please take a moment this week to learn more, share the message, support your local hospice if you can, and hold gratitude for the nurses, doctors, social workers, counsellors, volunteers, cleaners, cooks, and carers who make this care possible every day.

Because one day, hospice care may mean everything to someone you love. 🌿

https://www.hospice.org.nz/

Hospice provides holistic wrap around care and support for people with a life limiting illness, and their whānau/family. Everything provided through our 32 hospices around the country is free of charge.

15/05/2026

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who joined us for our recent kaupapa, Sudden and Unexpected Deaths – Community Response and Care, in Whakatāne.

We’ve had such heartfelt feedback from attendees, with many describing the day as “very valuable” and “deeply meaningful.” It was clear there was a real appreciation for the opportunity to come together, learn, ask questions and better understand the systems and people who support whānau through sudden loss.

Many attendees shared that they came away with new understanding about:
• the role and responsibilities of the Coroner
• the processes involved in coronial cases
• the work of first responders
• the different agencies involved following a sudden death
• how services work together to support whānau during incredibly difficult times

These conversations are not always easy, but they are deeply important. Behind every sudden or unexpected death is a person who is deeply loved, whānau navigating immense grief, and communities impacted in ways that are often unseen.

We are so grateful to all of our speakers, organisations and community members who contributed their wisdom, lived experience, openness and care to this event. The willingness to stand alongside one another reflected the importance of whakawhanaungatanga, collaboration, and collective care in supporting our communities.

This felt like an important step in creating more informed, compassionate and connected communities around death, dying, and grief. 💚

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa.

12/05/2026

As I reflect on today’s kaupapa “Sudden and Unexpected Deaths – Community Response and Care,” we were reminded that behind every emergency response, coronial process, and sudden loss is a deeply loved person, grieving whānau, and communities forever impacted.

This video is part of a series remembering the 77 mainly young people killed in Norway on 22 July 2011.

I want to mihi to my niece Vanessa (Sharidyn's mum), for showing us how grief, remembrance, love, strength and healing can sit together.

Arohanui Stella Black - co-chair NPH

11/05/2026

What can death doulas teach us about dying — and living?

This thoughtful BBC article explores the growing role of end-of-life doulas: people like our funeral guides who walk alongside the dying and their whānau with emotional, practical and spiritual support. From creating calm spaces, to helping families understand the dying process, to simply sitting and being present.

At Ngā Pou Herenga, this kaupapa sits at the heart of why we exist. We believe whānau and communities can reclaim knowledge, confidence and connection around death care — supporting one another in ways that are meaningful, culturally grounded, affordable and compassionate. Our role is to walk alongside people at a vulnerable time, helping restore community-led care and collective understanding around dying, death and grief. 🤍

Death doulas or soul midwives have increased in popularity in recent years. What do they do?

09/05/2026

I tēnei Rā o ngā Whaea, we honour all those who have nurtured, protected and held others with aroha.

We acknowledge mothers, māmā, kuia, aunties, sisters, whāngai parents and all those who take on the sacred role of caring for others. Your love becomes part of the whakapapa of our whānau and communities.

We also hold close those for whom today carries grief, remembrance or longing. May there be space for your memories, your tears, your stories and your aroha.

Arohanui to all who mother – in presence, in memory, and in spirit. 🤍

08/05/2026

🥰We are so very grateful to have Nora Mcloughlan and Faye Jennings offering tautoko and care throughout our Sudden and Unexpected Deaths – Community Response and Care hui this coming Tuesday.

Nora is a Reiki Master teacher and healer, and Faye is a Spiritual Facilitator and holistic practitioner. Together, they bring gentle support and a calming presence to those who may find this kaupapa brings forward memories, grief or mamae.

There will be an opportunity on the day to spend time with Nora or Faye if needed, with a sign-up sheet available at the event.

Nau mai, haere mai — all are welcome in this space of aroha, connection, and care for one another. 💛

07/05/2026

🍂Another set of important voices joining our hui next week are Katie and Colleen from Manaaki Tangata Victim Support.

Katie has been with Victim Support for six years, working predominantly alongside whānau impacted by homicide. Her role includes providing emotional support, advocacy, and support through the criminal justice process - from the time of death through to trials, sentencing, and parole hearings.

Colleen brings more than 20 years of experience in the community sector and leads Service Delivery across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Alongside her team, she supports victims and whānau affected by serious crime, trauma, and sudden or unexpected death, including homicide and fatal motor vehicle accidents.

Together, they will introduce the work of Manaaki Tangata Victim Support, the support available to whānau, and the important role their service plays alongside communities experiencing sudden loss and trauma.

Manaaki Tāngata - Victim Support

06/05/2026

See the Palliative Care Lecture for tomorrow

Denise Hewitt (Clinical Pharmacist) and Kate Bird (Nurse Practitioner) from Arohanui Hospice presenting:
Date: Thursday 7 May 2026, 7.30am - 8.30am
Title: Polypharmacy and Deprescribing in Palliative Care

https://www.hospice.org.nz/palliative_care_lecture_series

Send a message to learn more

05/05/2026

A reminder that our Ngā Pou Herenga hui is coming up next week on Tuesday 12 May in Whakatāne - bringing together voices from across our community to explore sudden and unexpected death and how we support whānau.

CORRECTED💙

We’re pleased to have Kylee and Kyle from Willetts Funeral Services joining us for this hui who, together, have over 23 years of experience as funeral directors.

They will share about their role as coronial transport providers, offering insight into what happens following a sudden or unexpected death and how they support whānau with dignity, care, and clear communication throughout the process. They will also speak openly about some of the challenges faced within the coronial system, and the importance of balancing practical processes with the emotional and cultural needs of grieving families.

Willetts Funeral Services Ltd