death WORKS NZ

12/08/2026

There’s something really beautiful about timing; a gentle reminder to trust the process.

Today, I received a card from a wife thanking me for her husband's service, especially grateful for my words of committal and how they helped her. ❤️

As funeral celebrants, we give a lot of ourselves, often more than people realise. The emotional space we hold for a family starts way before we stand at the lectern. Sometimes, we can leave a service feeling emotionally and physically aware of how much we've given.

Mostly, we, celebrants, don't know the impact of our words. But sometimes, thankfully, we're given a little glimpse, and for me that was today. 🙏

10/08/2026

Dying Matters Week is the perfect way to start thinking and planning your 'good death'.

08/08/2026

Heartwarming and Heartbreaking 💔
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbuUYxYjlNf/?igsh=MXByOXU2azk1M2Z2OQ==

05/08/2026

I wasn't always comfortable with death - far from it! In fact, the thought of being anywhere near a dead body scared the life out of me!

My first experience of death was my maternal grandmother. She was just 52 years old when she died very suddenly. I was only seven at the time, and seeing her after she had died was a terrifying experience that left me with nightmares.

For many, many years afterwards, death was something I feared. I can still hear my mum reassuring me, "It's not the dead you have to worry about; it's the living!" I knew that to be true, but it was still something I remained afraid of, rather than understood.

When my paternal grandmother died, I was 26 and had already experienced the deaths of both of my grandfathers. Their deaths were sad, but they were expected rather than sudden. Those experiences exposed me to different circumstances and gave me healthy exposure to the natural process of dying.

Looking back, the contrast between my grandmothers' deaths, happening at different stages of my life, and under very different circumstances, showed me how our age, experience, and our first introduction to death can shape our ongoing relationship with it.

The experiences we have, especially in childhood, can influence how we view death for years to come, but they don't have to define that relationship forever - I’m the living proof!

04/08/2026

The Irish sure know how to farewell! The perfect tribute from fellow musicians - for a man who died too young!

RIP Glen Hansard

04/08/2026

DIY is great if you want to, but it's not a straight forward or an easy undertaking, so become prepared.

17/07/2026

Is death a friend or foe?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dav3MdASQot/?igsh=dGd6dXplczVoazd6

10/07/2026

It was a treat to hang out with these film stars, Nikau, Kauri, & Gabby, as they made Matariki cookies and told me everything they know (and they know a lot) about the Māori new year.

Mānawatia a Matariki Marsden whānau. ✨

10/07/2026

✨ Mānawatia a Matariki e te whānau - I love this reflection on the Pōhutukawa star. ✨

"During Matariki, Pōhutukawa is often associated with remembering and honouring our loved ones who have passed on. But Pōhutukawa also invites us to reflect on what we need to let go of."

I encourage you to read the full post below👇

05/07/2026

Excellent question ⁉️

This may change between now and when I die, but my 'good death' would be at home, comfortable and pain free, but hopefully not too medicated (if it can be helped).
I'd only be surrounded by people who bring calm energy. I'd like to smell fresh flowers like daphne or jasmine , and if possible I'd love the threshold choir to sing as I transition from this world.

Do you know what good death looks like to you?

The When You Die Trilogy looks at what it means to have a 'good death'.
That concept means different things to different people.
What does it mean to you?