The Death Series

The shared links between Māori and Chinese communities, including a mutual respect for their ancestors and a determination to do the right thing by their dead, are explored by staff reporter JAYLAN BOYLE.

With the baby boomer generation ageing fast, it is projected that number of deaths in New Zealand’s will jump 50 per cent within two decades. Is our stretched, ‘death-denying’ health system ready for the steep upswing in demand for palliative and end-of-life care? Not yet, finds FIONA CASSIE.

Medically assisted dying polarises the health professions. FIONA CASSIE asks some health professionals for their views on what is a good or bad death.

While attitudes are slowly changing, the subject of death is still cloaked in stigma and taboo. JUDE BARBACK examines calls to educate children about death, dying and ageing.