Tauranga residents are being encouraged to have conversations about end-of-life planning, grief and legacy as part of Dying Matters Week Aotearoa next month.

The nationwide awareness week runs from September 7 to 13, with events planned across Tauranga.

They are aimed at helping people better understand what happens when someone dies, explore their options and access support.

This year’s theme, Shaping Your Legacy, encourages people to reflect on their values, wishes and the impact they want to leave behind, a statement from Dying Matters regional organisers said.

Local events include a session on funeral planning and natural burials at Greerton Library on September 7.

Hosted by Hope Family Funerals, the talk will cover funeral planning, costs, recording personal wishes and natural burial options.

A second event, Meeting Mortality: A Gentle Conversation About Living and Dying, will be held at Greerton Library on September 11.

End-of-life doulas Gaylene Delaney and Robyn Wilson will lead a discussion about legacy, what matters most in life and how considering mortality can help people live more intentionally, the statement said.

Gaylene Delaney, End of Life Doula at Embrace Life NZ.

The week will conclude with the Tauranga Dying Matters Expo at Hope Family Funerals in Te Puna on September 13.

The expo aims to bring together support organisations, end-of-life specialists and businesses, offering information for people planning ahead, supporting a loved one or wanting to learn more about end-of-life issues.

Dying matters regional coordinator Delaney said planning for the end of life was about more than making arrangements.

“Planning for the end of life isn’t just about making arrangements for when we die.

“It’s about knowing what your options are, deciding what matters to us and making sure the people closest to us understand our wishes.”

Dying Matters Week Aotearoa is led by Go With Grace with support from Hospice New Zealand, The Eldernet Group and the End of Life Doula Alliance Aotearoa.

Dying Matters Week Aotearoa 2026: Tauranga events

Funeral planning and natural burials

Monday, September 7, 6pm–7pm at Greerton Library

Meeting Mortality: A Gentle Conversation About Living and Dying

Friday, September 11, 1pm–2.30pm at Greerton Library

Tauranga Dying Matters Expo

Sunday, September 13, 9.30am–4pm at Hope Family Funerals, Te Puna.