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Death Week

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AA Life Insurance
John Rillstone portrait by Adrienne Martyn, 1980 (additional design by Tina Tiller)

Remembering my brother

The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.
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By Dougal Rillstone | 10th January, 2025
Guest writer
The lonely grief of baby loss and infertility
Cover Story

The lonely grief of baby loss and infertility

For those who lose a baby pre-birth or shortly after, grief is often unacknowledged. Those who know are trying to change things. 
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By Gabi Lardies | 10th January, 2025
Contributing writer
‘Everything I do in life, I do it for my donor’: Inside Aotearoa’s struggling organ donation system
Cover Story

‘Everything I do in life, I do it for my donor’: Inside Aotearoa’s struggling organ donation system

Aotearoa’s organ donation system is under pressure. The Spinoff investigates the problem – and how we might fix it.
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By Tasha Black | 30th December, 2024
Contributor
The Weekend: If in doubt, go to the funeral

The Weekend: If in doubt, go to the funeral

Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation.
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By Madeleine Chapman | 27th July, 2024
Special correspondent
John Rillstone portrait by Adrienne Martyn, 1980 (additional design by Tina Tiller)

The Sunday Essay: Remembering my brother

The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.
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By Dougal Rillstone | 27th July, 2024
Guest writer
Photo: SPP / Design: Tina Tiller

‘What a privilege’:  Whitney from The Traitors NZ on life as a funeral director

The funeral director and star of The Traitors NZ discusses her two favourite topics: death and reality television. 
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By My Life in TV | 27th July, 2024
Guest writer
Death is as natural as going to your local chippy, but without the same consumer guarantee.

Zero stars: Rating the experience of death and dying in Aotearoa

Having a Yelp for death doesn't just force us to talk about dying - it might just improve the quality of death, too.
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By Lyric Waiwiri-Smith | 26th July, 2024
Politics reporter
Cost of dying 2024 (Image: Tina Tiller)

Revisiting the cost of dying

Dying is inevitable and, so it seems, is it costing a lot. Why?
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By Stewart Sowman-Lund | 26th July, 2024
The Bulletin editor
What is the wildest Brokenwood Mysteries death of all time?

What is the wildest Brokenwood Mysteries death of all time?

Would you rather drown in a vat of wine or be electrocuted while dressed as the Statue of Liberty?
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By Alex Casey | 26th July, 2024
Senior writer
Image: Tina Tiller

‘It’s a no-brainer’: Why Aotearoa needs to ride the wave of water cremation 

Water cremation is the biggest thing to happen to the death industry in the last 100 years – so what's the hold up here?
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By Alex Casey | 26th July, 2024
Senior writer
Death by numbers (Image: The Spinoff)

Eight graphs that show how we die in NZ

What the numbers reveal about when and how we die, assisted dying applications, the cost of being buried, suicide rates, and more.
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By Shanti Mathias | 25th July, 2024
Contributing writer
The natural burial cemetery on the left; a traditional style on the right. Image design by Tina Tiller.

‘Death is sad, it’s not bad’: Inside the natural burial movement in New Zealand

The story of how natural burials started in Aotearoa, and what they involve.
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By Claire Mabey | 25th July, 2024
Books editor
Help Me Hera: Can I block a certain someone from attending my funeral?

Help Me Hera: Can I block a certain someone from attending my funeral?

Maybe I'm being petty, but I really, really don't want them to come. 
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By Hera Lindsay Bird | 25th July, 2024
Contributing writer
Image: Tina Tiller

The mana of digging a grave

On learning an underappreciated but vitally important skill.
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By Liam Rātana | 24th July, 2024
Ātea editor
The lonely grief of baby loss and infertility

The lonely grief of baby loss and infertility

For those who lose a baby pre-birth or shortly after, grief is often unacknowledged. Those who know are trying to change things. 
avatar
By Gabi Lardies | 24th July, 2024
Contributing writer
Every question I’ve ever had about getting life insurance, answered

Every question I’ve ever had about getting life insurance, answered

A worrywart who regularly frets about death, is responsible for two needy pets and has a deep aversion to personal admin ponders life insurance.
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By Alex Casey | 23rd July, 2024
Senior writer
The cost of dying: Breaking down the expenses of two recent funerals

The cost of dying: Breaking down the expenses of two recent funerals

It's Death Week on The Spinoff, so we're switching up our usual Cost of Being format.
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By The Cost of Being | 23rd July, 2024
Guest writer
The return of Death Week on The Spinoff

The return of Death Week on The Spinoff

When was the last time you thought about death? We're here to have the talk.
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By Madeleine Chapman | 22nd July, 2024
Special correspondent
‘Everything I do in life, I do it for my donor’: Inside Aotearoa’s struggling organ donation system

‘Everything I do in life, I do it for my donor’: Inside Aotearoa’s struggling organ donation system

Aotearoa’s organ donation system is under pressure. The Spinoff investigates the problem – and how we might fix it.
avatar
By Tasha Black | 22nd July, 2024
Contributor
Image: Ezra Whittaker

The first patient

We are all indebted to the people who donate their bodies for medical teaching and research.
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By Tasha Black | 12th January, 2024
Contributor

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