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Health Select Committee report fails to address real issues in funeral debt

The Funeral Directors Association says calls from advocacy group, Death without Debt, to simplify cremation paperwork is distracting Government from the real issues around funeral debt.

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Funeral Directors Association stands by Havelock North member firm

The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand has come out in support of a member firm that is facing a last-ditch attempt by local residents to prevent a crematorium being built in Havelock North.

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How the cost of living is increasing the cost of dying

From the wages to the casket to the embalming fluid, Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes said every element of a funeral had gone up.

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Organ donation in New Zealand: understanding your choices

Every day in New Zealand, people are given a second chance at life through the extraordinary gift of organ and tissue donation. As someone who regularly supports families through end-of-life decisions, I've witnessed how this sensitive topic can spark hope, hesitation, and countless questions.

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Unearthing the story behind Wellington's cemeteries

Cemeteries are more than just final resting places - they’re spaces where we connect with the past and honour those who came before us.

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The secrets, shame, and stories that led to unmarked graves

More than a century after Frank Renall reportedly beat John Henderson to death with his fists and a chair, both men lie in unmarked graves near the asylum where it happened.

More than 1700 other patients lie there in the same way: unacknowledged, unclaimed, and publicly unnamed.

Now though, that’s set to change.

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The impact of social media on the grieving process

Over the years, I've noticed how social media has transformed how we experience and express grief. What was once a private journey shared with close family and friends has become something that can be both deeply personal and surprisingly public.

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Water cremation a New Zealand first

In what is being called a significant change for the funeral industry, New Zealand’s first water cremation service is being offered in Christchurch from next month.

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Pacific families are vulnerable under current funeral rules, says industry leader

The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) is calling for more transparent standards for pricing and standards after further details of a former funeral director's misconduct were revealed.

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