Dying Matters Week connects people across Aotearoa to start conversations in a safe space, learn from local experts and seek support to plan for later life and end-of-life and to navigate grief and loss.
What’s happening in your location in 2026?
To date there are over 200 in-person events taking place across Aotearoa. Click on the images below to see what’s happening in your region.
For more information on hosting events in your region, please check out our Event Toolkit or email [email protected]
2026 Online Events
As well as in-person events, there are a number of online events happening during Dying Matters Week which you can access from anywhere. Click on the event tiles below to find out more and find links to join online events. View all online events…
More Ways to Get Involved
Follow the Go With Grace Facebook page for opportunities to get involved in the following Dying Matters Week campaigns.
Share your funeral song
If you could choose one song as your life anthem or to memorialise your time on earth, what would it be?
We’re creating New Zealand’s Ultimate Funeral Playlist! Share your song choice and the meaning behind it and we’ll add it to the playlist. Don’t forget to tag the friends or family so they know the music that matters to you most.
Tell us your about your song!
Plant a memorial tree
Who will you remember this Dying Matters Week?
Honour the life of someone special by planting a tree in their memory. Whether it’s in your garden, a family home, or another meaningful place, it’s a simple act that creates a lasting legacy. On our Facebook page, you can post a photo or video of your tree and share the story of the person you’re remembering. You can also tag in friends and family to join you.
Create your bucket list
We’ve created these fun ‘Bucket List’ posters to encourage people to plan ahead and make the most of later life. Share your life goals, big dreams, and must-do experiences. Stick them on the fridge and tag those you want to join you This is your time. Love life, live in the moment, and make the most of now. Grab one at your local Dying Matters Week event or download here.
Share a poem or story
By sharing stories about death and dying, we believe it helps us all to better understand these experiences, and be better prepared to support ourselves and others.
During Dying Matters Week, we will be sharing a beautiful collection of poetry from people all around New Zealand. Share your poem…
Dying Matters Week Updates
Stay up to date with the latest events, resources, and discussions via our Dying Matters Week email newsletter.
Go with Grace is a treasure box of stories, resources and knowledge to help people prepare for death, care for the dying and live with grief and loss. Offering comfort, honesty and practical advice, Go with Grace shows real leadership in opening up kōrero that matter and stands as a trusted, compassionate guide when people need it most.
Hospice New Zealand
Media Coverage
Click on the links below to listen to media coverage of Dying Matters Week. Please direct all media enquiries to [email protected].
- Reconnecting with Death, Dying Matters Week 2026
- Why conversations about death are important (Radio NZ)
- Dying Matters Week North Canterbury (Compass FM)
- Dying Matters Week Events at Wellington City Libraries
- End of Life Doulas: Changing How We Think About Dying
- Death Cafés across Tāmaki Makaurau
Media Archives
- Facing one of the inevitable parts of life: death
- Dying Matters Week 2025 Podcast
- Community Event Discusses Death, Dying & Grief
- Doulas Helping People Treat Death as a Journey
- RNZ with Kathryn Ryan on the Nine to Noon show
- End of Life Doula Alliance Aotearoa Interview with TVNZ
- Dying Matters Week – Pacific Days Interview
Videos and recordings from Dying Matters Week
View copies of visual presentations and video recordings made at events and workshops during Dying Matters Week 2025 or visit the Go With Grace YouTube channel…
2025 Dying Matters Week Photo Gallery
“Go With Grace has been a partner of North Haven Hospice’s for almost 3 years now, and a beneficial contributor to our services and mission of expanding knowledge, conversations and compassionate communities around death and dying.
North Haven Hospice has been a key participant in the inaugural event of Dying Matters Week NZ, and it has been wonderful to see Katy Mandeno and her team extend this into wider New Zealand regions and communities. We have engaged with the event with key staff members speaking and presenting at both events
held in the last 2 years and will continue to support the development of the event as part of the “Shaping Your Legacy” event to be held in September 2026.
We remain an ongoing partner of Go With Grace and their endeavours to educate and support our communities in a space where the conversations are hard, people feel lost and often don’t know where to turn.”
Dr Warrick Jones, Medical Director, North Haven Hospice