Death Cafe Dunedin

17/10/2022

11/01/2022

Sometimes death is slow ... lots of micro deaths; a series of losses.

Artist Tony Luciani was testing out a new camera when his 91-year-old mother, Elia, snuck into the background of his photos. The spontaneous images that resulted sparked a years-long collaboration, with Luciani documenting his mom's life and spirit as she lived with dementia. In this touching talk,....

06/09/2021

At what does being alive not constitute a life worth living? Jean-Pierre remained alive but in a coma for 39 years.

Jean-Pierre Adams had been in a coma since 1982 after an anaesthetic error during knee surgery.

07/08/2021

Thoughtful gift left by a mourner on, I imagine, an old gardener's grave at Kaitangata Cemetry.

11/07/2021

Come and join us this Thursday evening 15 July at 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at Equinox Resturant and Bar for robust, frank conversation about death and dying in a supportive environment. Free except for any food and drink you order.

16/05/2021

When someone dies ought we to refrain from mentioning damaging information about them to protect those grieving their death?

In a majority decision 7:4 the Media Council has found the inclusion of past offending in a brief report about a motorcyclist’s death was unfair to the grieving family.

09/05/2021

For some Mother's Day highlights the pain of losing one's mother.

If you believe the advertising, Mother's Day is all about flowers and breakfast in bed, but Lucy Corry asks the experts how you cope if the day brings sadness rather than joy.

19/04/2021

Teaching you how to care for your dead at home ... now there's a course in New Zealand you could attend.

Last week I travelled down to Gibbston in Otago to join in a Home Death Care workshop with the amazing and empowering Claire Turnham.

This is one of my favourite photos of the day (Note...our volunteer lying under the silk was very much alive throughout our washing, massaging and anointing)

The purpose of the course is return to us the simple ways of caring for our dead. I'd be the first to admit that looking after a dead body sounds confronting - but I found this a very natural. beautiful and honoring process,... and its completely non-invasive.

Let me know if you are interested in learning about this for your friends and family and if there are enough people I will ask Claire to come up and host a day in Chch.

08/04/2021

The shocking fact that Maori babies are 8.5 times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death than non Maori.

OPINION: At the moment, we're clearly saying it’s okay to have 30 mostly brown babies from overcrowded homes die in their sleep each year.