The team at Hospice Tairāwhiti are bringing Dying Matters Week events to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne for the first time in 2025.
This event is all about connecting people across Aotearoa to start conversations in a safe space, learn from local experts and seek support to get affairs in order and navigate grief or loss.
We’ve coordinated a number of guest speakers, workshops, drop-in support groups and more. With kind venues offering their spaces, we are bringing these FREE events into the city centre so our community can access the support that they need for navigating their journey.
You can find these events and some online events at Gisborne Events – Go With Grace
Sept 2nd Tuesday – 10am – 12 at Hospice Tāirawhiti
KOROWAI CUPPA a Weekly Drop-in Grief Group with Jen Clarke, Hospice Family Support Coordinator.
An opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. A safe space is held with a qualified facilitator where you can share, listen and access guidance as you navigate your journey with grief and end of life care. Drop in at any time between 10am and 12, even ten minutes can be invaluable. A free morning tea is provided.
Sept 2nd Tuesday – (2- 3:30pm) at the Gisborne Library Mairerangi Room
SUPPORTING WHANAU IN PALLIATIVE CARE & VOLUNTEERING WITH HOSPICE
Join our Hospice Tairawhiti Family support coordinator Jen Clarke and Volunteer Coordinator Jane Kibble as they discuss their respective support roles for patients, whanau and carers in the palliative care space. This is an open discussion to learn about the support and carer experience, how you can best help your loved ones in palliative care, and how you can help as a volunteer. We will also discuss how best to nurture yourself as the carer/whanau in a selfcare/wellbeing capacity. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 2nd Tuesday – 5:30 – &:30pm at the Gisborne Library Mairerangi Room
FILM SCREENING ‘WHEN YOU DIE’. Chapter 1: In the Realm of Death & Dreaming. Does consciousness continue after death?
with Q&A facilitated by Annie Meredith EOL Doula & Nicole West from Growing Through Grief.
Director Johanna Lunn guides viewers on a personal journey to find answers by, exploring stories of near-death experiences, deathbed visions and more. She speaks with the leading clinicians and researcher who have spent their careers studying these experiences and the nature of consciousness. Their stories are revealed with humour and compassion.
Exploring what happens after death not only helps us decide how we want to be cared for at the end of life, but it reduces our fear of death and helps us live more fully.
Each film screening will be followed by a facilitated Q&A discussion session. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 3rd Wednesday – 10am – 6pm at Tāiki E!
Drop-in Group GOOD GRIEF.
Hospice Tāirawhiti will be hosting a welcoming and safe drop-in. Stop by for a coffee and access support and learnings around navigating the end of life journey. A safe space to share, listen, connect and learn. Talk with local experts about accessing support, resources for navigating grief as well as the practical advice around getting affairs in order and what to expect. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Facilitated by Hospice Tairawhiti Family support coordinator Jen Clarke.
Sept 3rd Wednesday – 10:30am-11:30pm at Tāiki E!
WHAT NOW? NAVIGATING GRIEF with Annie Meredith End Of Life Doula.
A gentle, thought-provoking gathering that invites open conversations about life, death, and grief. Annie will be joining Hospice Tairāwhiti’s drop-in group ‘Good Grief’, together creating a welcoming and respectful environment where all experiences are valued. Whether you’re curious, grieving, or simply wanting to deepen your understanding, you are warmly invited.
When someone we love dies, we’re left to navigate a new landscape of life. This gathering offers a safe space to honour those who have died, share experiences of grief, and explore what moving forward can look like. Together, we’ll seek moments of connection, understanding, and hope. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 3rd Wednesday – 1pm-3pm at the Gisborne Library Mairerangi Room
TURNING PAGES with Annie Meredith End of Life Doula.
Sharing Stories: Books on Death & Dying. Books can be quiet companions through life’s hardest chapters. In this sharing circle, we’ll talk about books that have helped us navigate death, dying, and grief. Bring a favourite to recommend – whether it’s a memoir, a novel, poetry, or a practical guide – or simply come to listen and discover new reads. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 3rd Wednesday – 3:30pm – 6pm at Tāiki E!
REMEMBERANCE STAR WEAVING WORKSHOP with Lizzy Ngatai-Hawtin.
Although Matariki has passed, its stars still guide us. In particular, Pōhutukawa reminds us to honour and remember loved ones who have died.
Join Lizzy Ngatai-Hawtin for a relaxed, hands-on weaving workshop where we will create remembrance stars together. A gentle and creative way to reflect, share stories, and celebrate life as part of Dying Matters Week. All tools and flax provided. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 3rd Wednesday 7 – 8:30pm at Gizzy Local – 64 Lowe Street
SALT LAMP TALES
An evening of poetry & storytelling. A chance to listen and share about our experiences with death and dying through poems and stories. By sharing stories about death and dying, we can better understand these experiences and support our journeys around loss and grief.
Facilitated by Hospice Tairawhiti Family support coordinator Jen Clarke and Annie Meredith EOL Doula.
Sept 4th Thursday 10am-11am – at the Gisborne Library Mairerangi Room
Supporting Children and Young People after a Death
Facilitator: Nicole West from Growing Through Grief
When someone dies, children and young people often experience grief in ways that are different from adults. This workshop explores how we can support them through their unique journey, offering practical tools and insights for ways to foster resilience and emotional wellbeing. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or community worker, come along to learn, share, and strengthen your support for grieving young people. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits provided.
Sept 4th Thursday – 5-8pm (1st Session of 6) at EIT
JOURNAL WRITING FOR WELLBEING
with Gillian Moon, Creative Writing and Wellbeing Facilitator.
A Fee Free EIT night class begins on the 1st Sept, and runs for 6 weeks. This course provides a safe and supportive environment for anyone who wants to discover the wellbeing benefits of journal writing. Keeping a journal can cultivate self-reflection and enhance our sense of purpose and self-worth. Identify and overcome mental blockages and exercise your writing muscle. Your stories are waiting to be told.
No writing experience required. Journals and pens provided.
Sept 4th Thursday Night 5:15pm – 6:15pm at Tāiki E!
QI GONG FOR GRIEF SUPPORT with Lisa Murphy.
Qi Gong is a gentle practice of mindful movement and conscious breathing that helps restore balance—physically, emotionally, and energetically. Especially during times of grief, this ancient practice offers a compassionate space to reconnect with your body, release held tension, and support emotional healing. With regular practice, Qi Gong can enhance flexibility, strengthen the immune system, and promote resilience and inner calm. If you can breathe … you can do Qi Gong.
Sept 6th Saturday & Sept 7th Sunday.
Vicki Hiha’s 2-day Whariki Casket Weaving Workshop – BOOKING REQUIRED
Facilitated by Vicki Hiha, this wānanga offers the opportunity to create an Open Whāriki Casket. A personal and creative process that also opens space for kōrero around supporting whānau through the dying process. Guest speakers will join throughout the workshop to share their insights and experiences.
The wānanga will be held in Tairāwhiti/Gisborne. Accommodation is available for those travelling from outside the region (email Vicki for details). Lunch and refreshments are provided each day, and there will be an opportunity to purchase creations made during the wānanga. Spaces are limited and bookings are essential. To register or ask pātai, please email Vicki at mvhiha@gmail.com
A special opportunity to come together, learn, and reflect during Dying Matters Week.
