Monday 10 February 2025
5:30pm - 10:00pm OPENING FUNCTION @ PIC'S PEANUT BUTTER WORLD Sponsored by Ferno
Pic’s Peanut Butter World, the home of all things Pic’s Peanut Butter! This extraordinary venue, an architecturally designed factory and spiritual homeland, has been a cherished tourist attraction since its grand opening in 2019.
A red-carpet entrance, complete with canapés and drinks will set the tone for the evening.
You will be taken on an exclusive tour of Pic’s Peanut Butter factory and be captivated by a live cooking demonstration featuring delectable desserts from the Pic’s Really Good Recipe Book, showcasing creative ways to enjoy their peanut butter.
Tuesday 11 February 2025
8:00am Registration desk open
8:30am Housekeeping
8:35am Karakia/National Anthem
8:45am President welcome
9:00am KEYNOTE SPEAKER: A RETIREMENT HOBBY GONE BAD Sponsored by Mortech Industries
Speaker: Pic Picot
Pic Picot retired from teaching sailing at 55 and enrolled in a creative writing course. He retained a small laundromat behind his office at the Nelson Marina to keep him in pocket money. When forced to close the laundromat, he began selling peanut butter at the Nelson Market. Today Pic's Peanut Butter World produces 25 000 jars of peanut butter a day, and at 72, Pic is having another crack at retiring. He is looking forward to sharing his story with us at our conference in February.
10:00am MORNING TEA Sponsored by Windsor Industries
10:30am COMPLAINTS RESOLUTION WORKSHOP Sponsored by Orthometals
*Association Standards: Put the family first - Listen, best possible service within their needs. Informed understanding of bereavement process*
Speaker: Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL)
Managing complaints with compassion and professionalism is crucial for maintaining a funeral home's reputation and trustworthiness. This session will equip you with the skills to handle complaints empathetically and uphold service excellence.
Key topics include:
- Understanding complaints: Recognize why people complain and how to identify a complaint.
- Risks of ignoring complaints: Understand the dangers to your business of not addressing complaints.
- Effective response strategies: Best practices for taking ownership and resolving complaints swiftly and empathetically.
- Crafting thoughtful responses: Techniques for effective verbal and written communication, avoiding defensiveness.
- Dealing with challenging behaviour: Managing difficult individuals professionally and empathetically.
11:30am LOOKING AFTER THE LIVING, WHILE RESPECTING THE DECEASED
*Association Standards: Respect the Deceased - Treat deceased with dignity at all stages of care*
Speaker: Gavin Murphy, General Manager Invocare
While respecting the deceased is fundamental to the role of a funeral director, equally important is respecting the health and well-being of the living.
Over the last two years, Invocare has implemented a suite of mortuary upgrades, and health and safety process changes across their business to better meet funeral home obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Invocare NZ General Manager, Gavin Murphy will share their journey, explaining the key changes they identified, the resources and support they called on to implement them and the staff change management process necessary to ensure better compliance.
12:30pm LUNCH Sponsored by Windsor Industries
2:00pm - 9:30pm AMAZING RACE - NELSON DASH, DECIPER & DISCOVER EVENT
Race sponsored by Taylormade Caskets/Return to Sender, Drinks sponsored by Western Caskets, Dinner sponsored by Windsor Industries
Get ready to hit the streets of Nelson for an action-packed afternoon! You will be put into teams and will need to bring your A-game to tackle a series of fun and interactive challenges that will take you to some of Nelson’s most iconic gems. Each task will test your wits and teamwork.
After an exhilarating afternoon of racing and exploring, all teams will converge at a secret location for the grand finale. Feel the excitement build as we announce the winners and present fabulous prizes.
Then, it's time to unwind and celebrate! Enjoy casual mingling, mouth-watering food inspired by Nelson's local flavours, a cold bevy, and lively entertainment.
Wednesday 12 February 2025
8:45am Notices
8:50am ASSOCIATION NEWS
*Association Standards - Support the Association - Support aims and objectives and support development and progress of the profession and Association*
Speakers: President/CEO from Australian Funeral Directors Association (AFDA) and Funeral Directors Association of NZ
9:20am CONTENT MARKETING MASTERY: authentic digital connections in the funeral industry
*Association Standards: Honour the funeral profession - Quality service that can be relied upon in hour of need. Act honestly, provide competent personnel and quality facilities*
Speaker: Lisa Garrud, Content Director, MasterJack Marketing
In today's digital age, you have a unique opportunity to connect with your communities through thoughtful, value-driven content marketing. We’ll learn about developing a distinctive brand voice that resonates with your audience across multiple digital platforms. We'll also learn how to create content that provides genuine value, fostering trust and connection. We'll explore strategies for repurposing content across various channels to maximise impact and how to leverage AI tools for content creation with an authentic voice.
10:20am MORNING TEA Sponsored by Windsor Industries
11:00am POWER SLOT
Speaker: Mark Chaafe, Lucentt
11:30am PERSONAL STYLE WORKSHOP - TIPS, TRICKS, AND RULES TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SUITABLE ATTIRED Sponsored by Open Polytechnic NZ
*Association Standards: Honour the funeral profession - Quality service that can be relied upon in hour of need. Act honestly, provide competent personnel and quality facilities*
Speaker: Christine Hobby, Style Coach, Style and Shine Ltd
A fun, informative and interactive Personal Style Workshop designed to help you enhance your professional and personal image. This workshop covers a wide range of topics to ensure you present yourself confidently and suitably in any situation. Discover what your clothes say about you from a perception perspective and learn the essentials of professionalism, including posture, confidence, eye contact, and personal grooming. Dive into the specifics of dressing for different body shapes, with tailored advice for both men and women. Explore the nuances of office attire, client visits, and service attire, with style ideas to help you make the best impression. Learn how to express your individuality within uniform guidelines, making it easier for others to relate to you.
12:30pm LUNCH Sponsored by Windsor Industries
1:30pm PANEL DISCUSSION: SHAPING THE FUTURE - INNOVATIONS IN FUNERAL SERVICES Sponsored by Reterniti
*Association Standards: Support the Funeral Directors Association -to make every effort to assist the development and progress of the profession and the Association*
Abstract:
A panel discussion session that celebrates the innovative ideas shaping the future of the funeral industry. Our panel of industry futurists will share their insights on the transformative changes underway and the ground-breaking solutions they've developed to navigate these shifts.
Discover:
- The hypotheses driving their forward-thinking approaches
- The data and research supporting their innovations
- Real-life applications and success stories
An opportunity to learn from the leaders who are pioneering the next generation of funeral services.
2:50pm POWER SLOT - TBC
3:20pm END - NOTICES
3:30pm FREE TIME
6:00pm OFFICIAL CONFERENCE PHOTO
6:30pm - late GOLDEN GALA DINNER Sponsored by Lucentt
Join us for an unforgettable evening where everything glitters gold.
Adorn yourself in your finest golden attire and prepare for a night of opulence and fun.
Kick off the evening with bubbles on arrival, indulge in deluxe platters showcasing the best of Nelson's cuisine, and dance the night away with live music from The Underground band.
Capture your golden memories at our glitzy photobooth.
Don't miss this chance to be part of an exquisite celebration!
*Please note, this programme is subject to change.