Welcome to Dying Matters Week Whangārei

Go With Grace is bringing Dying Matters Week back to Whangārei in 2025 with over 40 free community events taking place at the Whangārei Central Library (May Bain Room – upstairs), Hihiaua Cultural Centre, North Haven Hospice and other venues from 1st to 7th September.

This week connects people across Aotearoa to start conversations in a safe space, learn from local experts and seek support to get affairs in order and navigate grief or loss.

Book Free Community Events

Book free events at venues around Whangārei using the form below. To find out more about each event, click or hover over the information icon on the event tile. Many venues have limited spaces, so please book early.

How to Book

1. Click on the event images below that you want to attend (a blue tick will show when selected).
2. Enter your contact details so we can send you updates or changes.
3. Click ‘Confirm my booking’ to finish.

Monday 1st September

The Importance of End of Life Planning, 10am - 11:30am

Legal Matters, Whangārei Central Library, 9:30 - 11am

Introduction to Compassionate Communities, 12noon - 1pm

Part 1 of the Compassionate Communities Series with Katy Mandeno, Go With Grace

Succession to Whenua Māori, Hihiaua, 12noon - 1:30pm

“Whatungarongaro te tangata, tōitū te whenua – humans disappear but the land remains - succession to Whenua Māori/Māori Land”. With Paula Wilson & Aroha Davis from Henderson Reeves Lawyers.

Get Your Ducks in a Row, 1 - 2:30pm

With Tanya Newman, Social Worker at North Haven Hospice

Inside North Haven Hospice, 1 - 2pm

Step inside Te Whare Hūmārie and discover the heart of North Haven Hospice through a guided experience that reveals how we support people to live well until they die. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at our compassionate care, peaceful spaces, and the dedicated team who wrap a cloak of support around patients, families, and whānau. Whether you're curious, considering volunteering, or simply want to understand more, this is a warm invitation to see how hospice is so much more than dying.

Learn from Loss with Karen Te'o, 3 - 4:30pm

A special session exploring how loss and grief, though painful, can awaken us to what truly matters — and guide us toward a more meaningful, intentional life. I've experienced the loss of 39 close family and friends, including the unexpected death of my husband of 43 years. From this deep well of experience, I will share stories and insights that have been proven to help others reflect, heal, and live more intentionally. Whether you are grieving, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to live with more intention — this event is for you. Come and join the conversation.

Tuesday 2nd September

DIY Funeral Workshop, 9:30 - 1:30

With Sherie Sullivan from Soverign Departures. Paid workshop, $50pp. Book Yout Spot

Advance Care Planning Workshop, 9:30 - 11am

Morning Tea & Presentation at Hundertwasser, 10 - 11am

Join us for a light morning tea and presentation by our Director Joost de Bruin. Hear about Hundertwasser’s approach to the spiral of life and death, his philosophy on dying and his natural burial on his property in Kaurinui, Northland. This is a free event, bookings are essential as numbers are limited to 20 people. For all who attend we wish to offer, for this day only, a 20% discount to our admission tickets. We look forward to hosting you at the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery.

Age Friendly Cities, 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Part 2 of the Compassionate Communities Series with Whangārei District Council.

Volunteering at Hospice, Midday - 1pm

Recording Memories Workshop, 2 - 3:30pm

An opportunity to start putting together your own personal Journal of Memories – photos, stories, poems, quotes, letters etc

The Role of a Death Doula, Whangārei Library - 3pm - 4:30

What if dying didn’t have to be something we face alone or in fear? What if families had the support they needed to navigate death with more clarity, compassion, and care? Join Sherie Sullivan for a heartfelt and enlightening introduction to her work as a Death Doula. In this session you'll explore the growing role of the Death Doula — a non-medical guide who walks beside individuals and families through the tender terrain of end-of-life planning, dying, death, and grief. Whether you're facing death, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about how we can do this better as a society, this talk will open your heart, challenge old assumptions, and offer a more human and heart centered way forward.

Wednesday 3rd September

What is a Natural Death? - 9:30am - 11am

With Dr Warrick Jones, North Haven Hospice Medical Director.

Legal Matters, Hihiaua Cultural Centre, 9:30am - 11am

Inside North Haven Hospice, 1 - 2pm

Step inside Te Whare Hūmārie and discover the heart of North Haven Hospice through a guided experience that reveals how we support people to live well until they die. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at our compassionate care, peaceful spaces, and the dedicated team who wrap a cloak of support around patients, families, and whānau. Whether you're curious, considering volunteering, or simply want to understand more, this is a warm invitation to see how hospice is so much more than dying.

Advance Care Planning Workshop, 11:30am - 1pm

Creating Community Support Groups, 11:30am - 12:30pm

Part 3 of the Compassionate Communities Series with Coastal Care Tutukaka.

Learn how to build a waka for your furbaby, 1:30 - 2:30pm

Moe Mai Ra Coffinz will be demonstrating how to build a casket for a fur baby, which follows the same principles they use for our adult-sized waka moe. There won’t have enough tools available for a full hands-on build with everyone, but everyone who attends will get their name put in a hat and they will gift the finished casket to one lucky person.

'In the Realm of Death and Dreaming' Film Screening, 3 - 4:30pm

Chapter 1: In the Realm of Death & Dreaming Does consciousness continue after death? Director Johanna Lunn guides viewers on a personal journey to find answers by, exploring stories of near-death experiences, deathbed visions and more. She speaks with the leading clinicians and researcher who have spent their careers studying these experiences and the nature of consciousness. Their stories are revealed with humour and compassion. Exploring what happens after death not only helps us decide how we want to be cared for at the end of life, but it reduces our fear of death and helps us live more fully. Each film screening will be followed by a facilitated Q&A discussion session.

Thursday 4th September

Shrouding and Natural Burial - 9:30 - 11:30am

Explore the ritual and the practicalities of using funeral shrouds in this hands-on intuitive workshop. This is for anyone interested in natural burials, death care, and the transformative role of shrouding in healing grief and honouring life. We’ll briefly look at historical and cultural perspectives, reasons for choosing to use a shroud, and how shroud-only funerals (without a coffin) align with NZ burial and cremation regulations. Everyone will then have the opportunity to experience wrapping each other in shrouds. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Creative Funerals & Natural Deathcare - 9:30 - 11am

Caring Circles and Support Groups, 12noon - 1pm

Part 4 of the Compassionate Communities Series with Christine West, North Haven Hospice, Caring for Carers.

Volunteering at North Haven Hospice, Midday - 1pm

Meet Haven Falls Poutama Tangihanga, 2:30 - 3:30pm

Natural Burial in Northland, 2pm - 3:30pm

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Assisted Dying But Were Afraid to Ask - 4:30 - 6pm

with Dr Gary Payinda.

Friday 5th September

Managing Dementia, 9:30 - 11am

With Trudi Bridges from Alzheimers Northland.

Make a Mini Memory Box - 10am - 12noon

Building our Local Compassionate Community, 12 - 1pm

Part 5 of the Compassionate Communities Series. What are the next steps for Northland?

Inside North Haven Hospice - 1 - 2pm

Step inside Te Whare Hūmārie and discover the heart of North Haven Hospice through a guided experience that reveals how we support people to live well until they die. This tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at our compassionate care, peaceful spaces, and the dedicated team who wrap a cloak of support around patients, families, and whānau. Whether you're curious, considering volunteering, or simply want to understand more, this is a warm invitation to see how hospice is so much more than dying.

Money Conversations, 1:30pm - 3pm

“Informal discussion about money – what’s on your mind? – how can we help you?”

The Importance of End of Life Planning, 3:30 - 5pm

With Katy Mandeno, Go With Grace

Saturday 6th September

Kite Making Workshop - 9am - 1pm

This is a paid event for groups of people/families. Cost: $50 per person or per kite if one adult working with younger children. In this workshop, Alicia Courtney will be guiding participants to create kites from Raupō (Bull Rush). Her hands-on workshop celebrates a time-honored practice, transforming native materials into soaring creations that connect Papa and Rangi through flight. Work as a team to make your kite then send it to the skies over the green space in front of Hihiaua. Kites were once inextricably linked to Matariki celebrations. Some tribes used their kite lines, as a sanctified conduit for their deceased whanau from the past year to ascend the heavens to Toi-o-te-Rangi. These conduits would also take away the mamae (hurt and sorrow) of a person, or people, so that they might heal and move forward. Book your spot online!

Haven Falls Whangārei Open Day, 10am - 1pm

Take a walkthrough of our facility and learn more about Haven Falls including a brief history. We will have a korero on Embalming – where this may not be necessary and instances that more discussion with whanau is needed. Bring all your questions on things you have always wanted to know and we'll try to demystify the Funeral Tangihanga space. Find out how our Korowai o Poutama Kete works. “Whaia te matauranga kia marama” – Seek knowledge to understand.

Wahakura Weaving Workshop, 1 - 5pm

With Wendy from All Flax. $80 pp. Book Your Spot

Sunday 7th September

Open Morning at A Graceful Undertaking - 9:30am - 12:30pm

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