We ran this workshop in 2024 and it was hugely popular, so we're bringing it back for 2025.
Death Without Debt is a national organisation campaigning and educating on funeral debt 'dedicated to creating a future where the cost of dying doesn't add to the burden of grief'. And where 'everyone in New Zealand has the right to an affordable and dignified funeral process.'
WORKSHOPS COVER:
Funeral planning, wills, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advanced Care Plans, probate
After-death paperwork requirements and avoiding professional service fees
Care and transport of the body
When you need a coffin and when you don’t.
The pros and cons of cremation vs burial. Alternative and environmental technologies.
The politics and history of funerals
Community initiatives and collective action for funeral reform
And much more . . .
These workshops are usually $40 per person, but RECAP is subsidising this to make it more accessible. Thank you to our varied funders who make this possible.
The cost for the Ashhurst workshop is $10 waged and $5 unwaged. Registrations are essential and can be made HERE
Hot drinks and snacks served. BYO lunch.
Presenters: Suzanne Chellius, Rachel Rose and Melissa Hemi.
Melissa Hemi was born and raised in Levin by her single mother, with the loving guidance of her kuia. Surrounded by Kaumātua from a young age, she developed a deep passion for supporting them on their journey through later life—whether that be navigating financial matters, improving health literacy, or planning for the inevitable. For the past four years, Melissa has worked with Rangitāne in the Kaumātua space and with the Older Persons Assessment and Liaison team at Mid Central, where she combines her love for education and her dedication to Kaumātua to uplift and empower her community.
Rachel Rose is a writer, editor and community organiser who lives in Whanganui. Her experiences supporting her parents before, during and after their deaths led to her work with Death Without Debt. She is an advocate for natural burials.
Suzanne Chelius is trained as an End of Life Doula; her passion is bringing the skills and knowledge around death back to communities. She serves as Deputy Chair on the board of RECAP in Ashhurst, and she also works as a Senior Tutor in Academic Writing at Massey University.
Join us to talk freely about the financial, legal, practical but also emotional aspects of death and dying in a relaxed and friendly environment.
To learn more: deathwithoutdebt.org.nz