$10,000 BayTrust Grant Supports Alternative Farewells

As traditional funeral costs continue to rise, a new BayTrust grant will help a Rotorua charity meet growing demand for more affordable and environmentally friendly alternatives.

The funding will support Te Atawhai ArohaCompassionate Communities Rotorua Trust to expand its programme of public workshops in 2027, helping more families understand their choices around death, dying and burial.

The trust’s Kaiwhakahaere, Lyn Walmsley,also hopes to establish a community dying home within the next three years, providing a welcoming place for people who have nowhere suitable to spend their final days.

“Many people are transferred to hospital unnecessarily when they’re dying, and at the other end of the spectrum, homeless people don’t even have a home to die in,” Lyn says. “We want to provide somewhere that gives people the dignity of having a nice place to die.”

The trust is continuing to work alongside Rotorua Lakes Council and local iwi towards establishing a natural burial area at the city’s proposed new cemetery near Lakeview Golf Course.

The latest figures from the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand put the average cost of a traditional burial at $14,300. By contrast, Lyn says that with planning and preparation, some families can manage their own funeral arrangements for less than $2,000,depending on burial or cremation fees and the choices they make.

“Our focus is about giving people options and having the right information to make informed choices,” she says. “People don't always realise that embalming isn't a legal requirement, and neither is having a coffin. You can use a shroud or get an affordable, personalised coffin through the local Coffin Club. There are alternatives.”

Established in 2019, Te Atawhai Aroha runs public workshops covering topics such as natural body care and burials, advance care planning, organ donation, assisted dying and grief. It also hosts monthly “Dying to Know” gatherings at Te Aka Mauri - Rotorua Library, encouraging people to talk openly about death and dying.

The Trust offers workshops for everyone, and in-depth training for individuals who want to support their own whānau. Specialist cooling equipment is available for hire, including Hau Pūhi Matao cooling platforms and Manaaki Mats, allowing families to care for loved ones at home or on a marae without embalming.

The charity's influence is also extending beyond Rotorua. Last year Te Atawhai Aroha partnered with Te Whatu Ora to become the first organisation in New Zealand to introduce the international No One Dies Alone (NODA) programme. Trained volunteers sit alongside hospital patients or residential care residents who would otherwise die alone, supporting approximately two people a month in Rotorua. Other groups around New Zealand are now using the trust’s approach as a model to establish similar programmes.

Lyn says the $10,000 BayTrust grant will contribute towards operating costs and community events, helping the trust’s two paid employees coordinate its growing programme and volunteer network. “The funding is critical. The rest relies on the generosity and aroha of our trustees and our core group members. They all are just amazing people and each has something to offer.”

BayTrust Chief Executive Alastair Rhodes says Te Atawhai Aroha's work aligns strongly with the funder’s commitment to improving community wellbeing.

“Losing someone you love is difficult enough without the added pressure of worrying about how you’re going to pay for their funeral. By helping people understand their options and plan ahead, Te Atawhai Aroha is giving families more choice and confidence. Being involved in caring for someone after they’ve died can also be a meaningful part of the grieving process, providing comfort and a chance to say goodbye in a very personal way.”

Rhodes says natural burial offers environmental benefits as well, with bodies buried without embalming chemicals in biodegradable shrouds or coffins. Native trees can be planted over burial sites, helping to regenerate the landscape over time.

“Only a few generations ago, caring for loved ones at the end of their lives and after death was something many families did themselves. Today, most people are more familiar with traditional funeral services, but it’s important to know there are other options. Te Atawhai Aroha is helping bring those choices back into everyday conversations and making it easier for families to decide what feels right for them.”

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