Dying Matters Week 2024

Here's a brief recap of the incredible events that took place

We started the Dying Matters Week 2024 with Let’s Talk About Grief, presented by Averill Waters from The Grief Centre. Averill shared her personal and professional insights on grief, helping us better understand how to support ourselves and others through loss. The next evening, we were honoured to have Pou Atawhai Hera Pierce for Whakawhānau me ngā pahemo: Birth and Death in Te Ao Māori. This event invited participants to explore Māori understandings of life and death through ancient stories, offering a deeper connection to the traditions surrounding death in Aotearoa. In We Can Do This! In the What, Why, and How of Home Funerals, death care expert Claire Turnham shared her knowledge about family-led home funerals. Her powerful presentation inspired whānau to care for loved ones actively and provided valuable insights into the benefits of more personal, intimate funeral practices.

We hosted two incredible events on Thursday. The Heartfelt Remembrances pop-up at Mt Roskill Library invited participants to sew felt hearts as part of the 1000 Hearts Project, creating beautiful tributes to loved ones who have passed. We also held the Navigating the End of Life Journey online talk, which offered practical advice for those preparing for end-of-life or caring for someone else during this time. The Heartfelt Remembrances pop-up event continued at Birkenhead Library, where the community gathered again to sew felt hearts and share stories of remembrance. On the weekend at Avondale Library, we held the Demystifying Dying workshop, where a panel of experts, including a Palliative Care doctor, nurse, and Death Doula, answered questions about the end-of-life journey. We concluded the week with Spiritual Perspectives on Death and Dying at Birkenhead Library. Attendees had the opportunity to hear diverse cultural and spiritual viewpoints on death and dying, exploring the rich tapestry of traditions, beliefs, and rituals worldwide.

As you can see, it was quite a week! Again, our deepest thanks to everyone who participated in Dying Matters Week. Your involvement has significantly impacted fostering compassionate communities and open kōrero around death and dying. We love seeing this kaupapa grow and expand!