Dying Matters Week

Aotearoa’s first Dying Matters Week will officially launch next week from August 5th-11th.

Go With Grace – the organisation behind the initiative – supports people to better understand and prepare for dying and feel empowered to put end-of-life planning in place.

Activities during the week aim to raise awareness and connect people with resources, information, services and advice to begin what can often be very challenging conversations.

In Palmerston North, the City Library is supporting the growing movement towards ‘death literacy’ in a number of ways:

August 4th-11th: Display – Books, printed resources and information featuring content related to advanced care planning, dying and grief, poetry submitted from around Aotearoa for Dying Matters Week.

Monday 5th August: Shared Reading – Dying Matters (1-2pm, Oroua Room, Central Library). Poetry and short stories relating to love and loss.

Sunday 11th August: How to Outsmart Death – Awareness and Planning (11am-12pm, Mezzanine Floor Central Library). A talk/drop-in session with Laura Sweetman (Funeral Director & Co-Facilitator of Manawatū Death Cafe), Rachel Craw (PNCC Kelvin Grove Cemetery Admin) & Rae Horton (Community-based health worker providing support with the many aspects of death and dying).

There are also two online events organised by Go With Grace:

Tuesday 6th August, 6-7:30pm – Whakawhānau me ngā pahemo: Birth and Death in Te Ao Māori. Listen to Pou Atawhai Hera Pierce share pūrākau (ancient stories), and understandings of Māori cultural practices around death, and beyond.

Thursday 8th August, 6-7:30pm – Navigating the End of Life Journey: Gain valuable insights into accessing available services, navigating bureaucratic processes, and finding emotional and practical support during times of loss.