Dying Matters Week Northland
Shaping Your Legacy Expo Whangārei
Join us for Dying Matters Week in 2026 at exciting community events in Whangārei and Dargaville, helping you to plan ahead for later life and shape your legacy.
Other Northland events
There are also a number of events planned in Dargaville, Maungaturoto and in other locations around Whangārei and Northland.
Join us at the Shaping Your Legacy Expo this September
Conversations about later life and legacy are some of the most important conversations you can have with your whānau. We would love for you to join us for the exciting new Shaping Your Legacy Expo on 10th and 11th September at McKay Stadium in Whangarei.
Bring a friend or neighbour, bring your whānau and take a positive step towards creating peace of mind for both yourself and your family. We have a wide range of businesses, organisations and community groups to connect with, as well as an amazing programme of expert speakers,food trucks and coffee carts, plenty of free parking onsite.
Thursday 10th September – 2pm – 8pm
Friday 11th September – 10am – 5pm
Get the answers to important questions such as:
- Why is having an up-to-date will and powers of attorney so important?
- Who can help me create an advanced care plan?
- How do I protect my children and inheritance after I’m gone?
- How can I record my end-of-life wishes and share with my family?
- When should I downsize and look at retirement living?
- Are there groups and clubs for older adults in Whangārei?
- How do I plan a farewell that is unique and meaningful?
Get your legal matters sorted
Talk to teams from Henderson Reeves Lawyers and WRMK Lawyers at the expo about wills, estates, Powers of Attorney, Protection of Personal and Property Rights, Prenup agreeements, retirement home village contracts, protecting your children, making a plan for your pets and more.
Listen to Expert Talks
Our speaker series (upstairs at McKay Stadium) features presentations from a range of local experts on wills and estates, powers of attorney and prenups, funeral planning and Q&As, financial planning, getting your ducks in a row, the importance of community and many more. Check the schedule below regularly and your printed programme at the expo to decide which talks you would like to attend. All talks are free and registration is not required.
Explore Connection Spaces
We’re planning special Connection Spaces at the event, to help you navigate all the amazing information, organisations, and advice available.
The Health Hub
Chat with a health organisations including North Haven Hospice, Dementia Tai Tokerau, the Cancer Society, Bowel Screening, Prostate Cancer Foundation and more. You can also get hands-on support and advice from the Te Whatu Ora team to start your Advance Care Plan. They can then help you digitise your plan and send it securely to your doctor. Start making a personal safety plan with Hato Hone St John Ambulance.
Farewell Planning
There are so many beautiful and meaningful ways to farewell a loved one. Meet with local funeral specialists from Morris and Morris Funerals, A Graceful Undertaking and Haven Falls Funeral Directors and learn more about how they can support you and your whānau. See examples of eco-coffins, native wood coffins from Windsor Industries, silk shrouds, flowers by Native Florist and learn about Maunu’s natural burial ground.
Ageing & Wellness
Talk to local retirement villages, BUPA, Jane Mander and Metlifecare and home care support services, Home Support North, TLC4U2 and Dovida about your options in Northland. Staying healthy as you age is a challenge but there is a lot you can do to proactively manage your health. Talk to Sport Northland about their balance and strength programmes, ask a personal trainer to setup a basic weight training programme.
Grief & Connection
Connect with grief through the lived experience of others including poetry exhibitions and memory walls. Chat to Northland author Debby Curreen and explore different ways to process your own grief through art, memory box making with North Haven and Creative Northland, and a wind phone for conversations with your loved ones who have died. Staying social as you age is as important as staying active – explore local seniors and sporting groups.
Big thanks to our wonderful Expo Event Partners
and our growing list of sponsors and exhibitors…
Interested in Exhibiting? Join Us!
Do you provide products and services that are useful to older adults? The Shaping Your Legacy Expo is the perfect opportunity to connect with new customers face-to-face, promote your products and services and make it easier for Whangārei’s ageing population to do business with you. Join us and connect face-to-face with your customers and community. Find out more…
More Northland Events
What attendees have said about past events…
“I feel more empowered and have a much better understanding of why I should have a WILL.”
“Refreshing to talk about funerals. Makes sense. Great to have an open conversation – I wish I had known about this 6 years ago.”
“Clarified for me that we need to get a diagnosis for Mum and make a plan to care for her”
“It has allowed our family to talk and plan ahead so much better than we would have.”
“What an awesome website – so user friendly and all-encompassing. Katy, you came from such a place of passion and wisdom. Thank you!”
