Innovative funeral support service coming to the Eastern Bay with help from Trust Horizon

Community development organisation, Eastern Bay Villages, is soon to establish an affordable and eco-friendly funeral support service, with the help of a grant from Trust Horizon. 

In late 2020, members of Eastern Bay Villages/Te Kokoru Manaakitanga raised three key concerns around current funeral practices; affordability, sustainability, and the need for a more whānau-led approach. 

“Even though local funeral directors are very fair in their pricing, they still have premises and staff that they need to cover, which can make costs prohibitive for those experiencing poverty,” says Ruth Gerzon, Executive Officer of Eastern Bay Villages. “Many are also looking for a more eco-friendly alternative to embalming – a process which is now banned in Europe. Along with these two key issues, we also saw a growing wish to empower whānau to provide their loved ones’ care at home themselves.”

Tasked with finding a solution, Eastern Bay Villages soon found that Te Kaha local, Moetatua Turoa of Whānau-a-Apanui, had an effective solution already at hand. In search of a more affordable funeral option, Turoa imported a cooling pad from Holland almost three years ago. The cooling pad is placed under the coffin, keeping the body cool and removing the need for embalming – meaning the body can remain with the family throughout funeral preparations.

Turoa redesigned the European cooling pad with a marae environment in mind. He created an innovative new prototype named Atamira Matao, which has already been successfully used for three funerals. With funding from Trust Horizon, Eastern Bay Villages will now be able to commission the manufacture of five additional Atamira Matao. The Trust’s grant will also go towards the purchase of two freezers, used to store ice packs to keep bodies cool while being transported home from around the country. 

Trust Horizon Trustee, David Bulley, says the Trust is pleased to be able to support such an innovative initiative. “From affordability to sustainability, it’s clear that this project will bring many benefits to the Eastern Bay community,” he says. “Most of all, for those who have lost loved ones, being empowered to say goodbye in their own way will be incredibly meaningful.”

Planning to launch by the end of this year, Eastern Bay Villages’ new funeral service will be online-based. “We’re planning to keep costs down by not having premises. Where most funerals are close to $8,000, we’ll be able to do it for not much more than $2,000 depending on their exact needs,” says Gerzon. “But it’s not just about cost. Many of these people have cared for their loved ones before they died. Now, they can carry on caring for them before their funeral.”

The service will include a team of trained funeral guides, who will support whānau to prepare the body, source a coffin, and fill in all the required paperwork. Eastern Bay Villages has already begun training 10 guides. “We have both Māori and Pākehā guides, and there’s ongoing support for the people doing this mahi,” says Gerzon. “We’re looking for more people to become guides, too. Those who are interested can visit Eastern Bay Villages here.

The new Atamira Matao cooling pads will be manufactured in Whakatāne. With interest in the pads coming from around the country, Gerzon believes they could lead to a new Eastern Bay industry, and new work opportunities for locals. “I’m very confident that what we’re doing will take off around New Zealand. But it’s still a very new idea, so it’s been quite difficult for us to find funding,” says Gerzon. “The Trust recognised what we’re trying to do, and understood how important it is for whānau. Their grant has made a huge difference.”

Find out more about Trust Horizon community funding here.