Last Words is a short book about ways of acknowledging death in different cultures and religions currently in New Zealand. While it is designed for use by nurses and doctors, chaplains, funeral directors, police, hospice and community workers, the book is also intended for general readers – the New Zealand public.

The book includes sections on: different cultures and faiths; Maori perspectives; facing death; and grief. A practical section takes the reader through the essential points of dealing with accidents, inquests, the coroners’ court, and burial. Last Words will help people deal sensitively with many aspects of death and dying in the New Zealand context. This is a book for people working with people.

Co-published with the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand.

Endorsements                                              

'For all of us, this book is a valuable resource for dealing with death and dying, and for living with cultural diversity in New Zealand.' Joris de Bres, Race Relations Commissioner

Contents                                                       

Introduction
Joris de Bres

Facing Death

Margot Schwass

Tikanga Maori – Maori perspectives

Death, Dying and Grief

Paratene Ngata

Contemporary Perspectives

Papaarangi Reid

Haami Piripi

Sharon Clair

Migrant Communities in New Zealand

Margot Schwass

On Cultures and Faiths

Section index

African

Anglican

Brethren

Buddhists

Catholics

Chinese

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Cook Islands

Fijian

Filipino

Former Yugoslavia

Indian

Iranian

Iraqi

Japanese

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Jewish

Korean

Latin American

Methodists

Muslim

Non-Religious

Niuean

Orthodox

Presbyterians

Ratana

Ringatu

Samoan

Sri Lankan

Tokelauan

Tongan

Tuvaluan

Understanding grief

Tricia Irving

Appendices

List of Organisations

Practical matters

Further Reading