Inaugural Dying Matters Week launches in Whangārei

New Zealand’s first Dying Matters Week will officially launch in Whangārei next month to help people start conversations about death and dying and feel empowered to put end-of-life planning in place.  

Dying Matters Week has been created by a team of experts, to connect communities across Aotearoa with expert talks, workshops, information and advice to begin what can often be very challenging conversations.

More about Dying Matters Week...

One of the organisers is Whangārei-based Go With Grace, an organisation dedicated to guiding and supporting New Zealanders through their experiences with death and dying.

“There are so many amazing people working in this space who support those facing dying, or those wanting to plan for end-of-life. It’s a privilege for us to be able to connect our local community with these experts, in a safe and welcoming space that encourages more open and honest conversations about this very important stage in life,” says Katy Mandeno, Founder of Go With Grace. 

Dying Matters Week is being run in partnership with North Haven Hospice, End of Life Doulas Alliance Aotearoa, Henderson Reeves Lawyers and Whangārei Central Library, where special events and displays will take place over five days from 5th-9th August.

Members of the community will be invited to attend a variety of free presentations, workshops and talks led by subject matter experts on topics including Advanced Care Planning, Grief in the Workplace, Natural Death Care, Palliative Volunteering, Natural Burials in Northland, Legal Matters, Caring for Carers and more. “It is hoped that through the sharing of information and knowledge, people will feel empowered to put end-of-life planning in place to create peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones,” says Ms Mandeno.

Featured among the speakers are specialist staff from North Haven Hospice. Tumuaki CEO Helen Blaxland says the event is a wonderful opportunity to help Whangārei residents better understand the various community support and resources provided by other services in their local areas, including North Haven Hospice. “We’re thrilled to partner with the very first Dying Matters Week because it gives us an opportunity to support people in the community to start conversations about end of life, when they have space and time to consider what’s important to them, and feel empowered to better plan for this stage of life. This is also a wonderful opportunity to shed light on all the amazing support services and resources right here in our own communities so as to create caring neighbourhoods,” says Helen.

As well as Whangārei-based events, there are also Dying Matters Week activities taking place across New Zealand, including events in Whangaparāoa, Auckland, Porirua, North Canterbury and Christchurch.

In addition to free daily workshops, presentations and talks from local experts in the bereavement and care sector, Whangārei Central Library will be displaying a curated collection of books on grief and dying and death-care resources from local businesses and organisations. There will also be opportunities to connect with those who are going, or who have gone through, similar experiences in the Departure Lounge or over a cuppa and cake at the Death Café, being held in the Library Cafe on Thursday 8th August at 2pm.

To celebrate Dying Matters Week, people in the community are also being invited to remember their loved one by writing a poem or short story, as a way to process their grief and acknowledge their loved ones.