Phone 09 988 9502 or 021 541 404
Work and Income Funeral Grant: A funeral grant is available form NZ Work and Income for those who meet certain asset and income criteria
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/funeral-grant.html
Pouri Mannaaki; Peer support group for people affected by suicide: Supporting suicide loss survivors, Wednesday evenings 6.30pm to 8pm, Hope Church (not affiliated with the church) 1 Hunt Street, Whangarei.
Contact Diane Coleman counsellingmattersnz@gmail.com
Skylight Trust supports people of all ages throughout New Zealand who are facing any kind of tough life situation. Their services include counselling for grief and bereavement with a focus on bereaved children. Skylight helps people to find ways to live with life’s losses, to build on their natural resilience and to move forward in their lives and access to expert information, education, professional services, and support.
Shrouds; beautiful silk and cotton, hand dyed and carefully made by a local supplier
https://www.akeakeshrouds.co.nz/
Are we thinking enough about what we do with ashes?
Let Your Love Grow is a product which allows you to take care of the environment when scattering or planting/burying cremains. Cremains (ashes) have very high pH and sodium levels, both of which are damaging to the soil and harmful to the environment. Let Your Love Grow is an organic mixture which, when combined with cremains, lowers the pH and sodium and creates an environment scientifically proven to nourish plant life. It is suitable for use with newer or older cremains, including pets, and enables you to celebrate life while protecting our planet. This product comes in various sizes and can be ordered as needed. https://letyourlovegrow.com/pages/how-it-works
Small chest freezer on loan
With more consideration being given to questioning the need or appropriateness of embalming, the primary alternative method of after death care becomes keeping the body cool, and at home this means using ice packs. Keeping those ice packs frozen in our home freezers where food is stored can be a barrier. We were fortunate that a family who used their own small chest freezer for the ice packs, has gifted it into our care. This freezer is now available on loan to families who use our services, with grateful thanks to Lisa and whanau.
Natural burial site in Whangarei
Celebrations and congratulations to the Whangarei District Council who, in July 2018, have opened a natural burial site in a section of mature trees at the Maunu Cemetery. This is the first of it's kind in New Zealand, and the only natural burial site north of Auckland. The idea is that the burial is as natural as possible, with minimal impact to the environment. This means there are certain restrictions on both the deceased and caskets, along with the method of burial. Burials in this area are dug to 800mm, this is so the casket or shroud sits in the active layer of earth and will break down at a faster rate than that of a traditional burial plot. Bodies must not be embalmed and there are conditions around the materials and construction of the caskets and shrouds that can be used. This is an excellent new option.
Gentle Conversations
A free compilation of questions to support gentle conversations around preparing for death, compiled and presented by local Whangarei woman, Jane Cunningham.
www.gentle-conversations.com
Death Cafe
At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to drink a cuppa, eat cake and discuss death. The objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Death Cafes are happening worldwide, inviting people to a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.
www.deathcafe.com
Click here to find out more about our Death Cafe in Whangarei
Grief Centre
Offering transformative support through all forms of loss and grief. Auckland based professional services with counselling available in Whangarei www.griefcentre.org.nz
End of Life Services Online
Te Hokinga ā Wairua is a free government online resource that helps guide people through bereavement, and helps people to create their own personalised plan for end of life preferences and information. Te Hokinga ā Wairua presents a timeline of what to do in the days, weeks, and months following a death.
www.endoflife.services.govt.nz
Natural burials
The not-for-profit organisation that introduced certified natural burials to New Zealand and advises local councils on how to establish natural burial cemeteries across the country. Promoting, certifying and monitoring cemeteries, coffin makers and funeral directors for adherence to the standards. Will advise consumers of their rights. www.naturalburials.co.nz