Why We Should Give a Bit More Credit to the People Who Step Up When It Matters Most
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​Funeral directors have taken a bit of heat in recent years. Some people feel they charge too much, or that the funeral industry’s too focused on profit. And sure, it’s fair to ask questions. Funerals can be expensive, and not everyone has the same experience.
But here’s the thing: most people don’t see the work happening behind the scenes. When someone dies, there’s more to do than choosing a casket or booking a time for the service. There’s paperwork, logistics, transport, family dynamics, legal details, cultural practices, and a lot of it needs to happen quickly. That’s where funeral directors come in.

When you’re grieving, even basic tasks can feel overwhelming and for a lot of people, dealing with forms, timelines, logistics, or figuring out how to arrange care for a loved one’s body is just too much. Funeral directors know what needs to happen, and they know how to do it with compassion, clarity, and professionalism.
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They carry out a wide range of duties that ease the burden for families, including:
• Handling legal and administrative matters, such as registering the death, arranging permits, and obtaining the official death certificate.
• Caring for the deceased with dignity and professionalism, including transport, preparation, and, where requested, embalming.
• Coordinating the funeral, managing logistics, booking venues, liaising with cemeteries or crematoria, and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day.
• Personalising the service, helping families create a meaningful farewell that reflects the life and values of the person who has passed.
• Providing emotional support, offering practical guidance and compassion at a time when people are often overwhelmed and vulnerable.

It’s not just a job. It’s a service built on empathy, experience, and attention to detail.
Like any industry, there are different levels of service. But most funeral directors in New Zealand are in this line of work because they genuinely care. It’s not an easy job. It takes emotional strength, long hours, and the ability to meet people in their darkest moments , often with very little thanks.

That kind of care deserves some recognition.

Yes, You Can Plan a Funeral Yourself
If you or your family want to go the DIY route, that’s awesome. There’s a growing movement of families choosing to do more themselves; caring for the body at home, holding private services, or keeping things simple and personal. It’s a beautiful option for those who are up for it, and we fully support families making choices that reflect their values.

If this is something you’re considering, it’s worth looking into before you actually need it. There are great resources out there, and understanding what’s involved ahead of time can make a big difference. Legal requirements still need to be met. The body must be cared for properly. Timelines can be tight. And in the midst of grief, it can be a lot to manage, even for the most organised families.
That’s why, for many families, working with a funeral director brings real peace of mind. For some, it’s not a luxury. It’s a huge relief.

Kids & Caskets: How Decorating Can Help Children Process Grief
Talking to kids about death is not easy. When a loved one passes away, children can feel confused, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to express their emotions. One way to help them navigate grief is through creativity, and that’s where casket decorating comes in.

At Outside The Box Caskets, we’ve seen firsthand how getting children to take part in personalising a loved one’s casket can be a deeply healing experience. Whether it’s drawing pictures, writing messages, or painting something meaningful, this simple act can turn grief into a creative and comforting process. Research shows that art therapy can be incredibly beneficial for grieving children, giving them a tangible way to express emotions that are often difficult to put into words (Green, Karafa, & Wilson, 2020). Studies also suggest that when children are actively involved in funeral rituals, they experience a greater sense of closure and emotional understanding (Center for Loss, 2023).

Funerals can sometimes feel like a space designed for adults, leaving children on the sidelines, unsure of how to participate. But giving them an active role, something as simple as decorating the casket, can make a huge difference. It allows them to feel involved in the farewell, rather than just witnessing it from a distance. Experts say that these kinds of rituals provide children with a sense of comfort and help them process the reality of loss in a way that feels more natural (Callaghan Mortuary, 2024).
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Art has always been a way for children to communicate when words fall short. Picking up a marker or a paintbrush often sparks important conversations, questions like, “Where is Grandpa now?” or “Do you think he’d like this?” These moments, while difficult, open the door for honest discussions about death in a way that feels less intimidating. When kids are encouraged to take part in the goodbye, they begin to understand that death, as sad as it is, is also a natural part of life.

For many children, the idea of someone being gone forever is hard to grasp. Creating something visible, like a decorated casket filled with messages, drawings, and symbols of love, helps make that loss more tangible. A handprint, a note, a small drawing, these things become a connection, something they can hold onto even after the funeral is over. Grief counsellors often talk about how these physical acts of remembrance help children process loss in a healthier way (Green et al., 2020).

There are so many ways to get kids involved in this process:

• Markers & Crayons  - Drawing pictures directly onto the casket.
• Message Writing - Encourage them to write a note to their loved one, something they’d like to say one last time.
• Handprints - Using non-toxic paint, kids can press their hands onto the casket as a way of leaving their mark.
• Stickers & Photos - If drawing feels too overwhelming, they can place stickers or glue on pictures of special moments.
• Favourite Quotes or Song Lyrics - Older kids might want to write down a song lyric or quote that reminds them of their loved one.​​

In many cultures, death is a subject that often gets tiptoed around, especially when it comes to children. But shielding them from it doesn’t necessarily protect them, it can sometimes make the grieving process even more confusing and isolating. Experts agree that when children are given space to express their emotions in a safe, creative way, they often cope with loss in a healthier, more resilient manner (Center for Loss, 2023). Funerals aren’t just about saying goodbye; they’re about honouring a life. And giving kids the chance to take part in that through something as simple as a drawing or a message can turn a moment of sadness into something truly special.

At Outside The Box Caskets, we believe every farewell should be as unique as the person it honours. Our DIY kraft caskets allow families to add their own touch - painting, writing, or decorating in a way that reflects a loved one's life and spirit. Get in touch with your local funeral director or contact us today to learn more.

Are you a nature lover and consciously think of ways to minimise your personal impact on the environment? Do you feel that it’s essential to give back to the world, especially after you have gained so many benefits from it? 

With more and more people trying to live eco-friendly, green and sustainable lifestyles, many of us are also considering the impact we can have on the environment when we die. 

You may not have really thought too much about it till now, but trees take 28-30 years to grow and are the main material used to make timber caskets which are then only buried or cremated. Seems like such a waste of natural resources and cost. 

The good news is that there are now alternative options such as cardboard caskets and coffins that you can choose from rather than a traditional casket made from timber or MDF. 

A green study from Southern Cross University found that making greener choices led to deeper levels of life satisfaction and positive outlook on life compared to those that didn’t. So, just like recycling, reducing single-use plastics or reusing reusable bags for shopping, nominating something eco friendly in your final wishes seems like a natural fit. 72% of those in the study also hoped to leave a better planet for their children which make all of these choices even more motivating when it comes to protecting our environment. 

Any funeral arrangement, whether it be a burial or cremation will carry some environmental impact or footprint but it’s important to understand how you can make alternative choices to minimise that impact when it comes to your final send off. 

What are Green Burials? 
Also known as eco burial or natural burial, green burials are environmentally friendly and focus on more simple, eco-friendly funerals for the dead. 
We know people are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, which has also contributed to a return to more eco-friendly green burials methods. Did you know that according to the Natural Funeral Directors Association​, they have seen a resurgence in green burials globally in recent years, with many indicating they would consider having one instead of a more traditional funeral arrangement.
 
What makes Green Burials the best choice? 
The phrase “Leave it better than you found it,” isn’t always easy to follow when it comes to burials. As our society works to establish sustainable lifestyles, more and more people are turning toward green burials. Green burials have little to no environmental impact and can actually restore natural resources and habitats. 

Their sustainability comes from the use of nontoxic and biodegradable materials such as eco caskets that are often made from cardboard. Caring for the dead in an environmentally friendly way is both natural and rewarding. Some of the benefits of green burials include; 

1. Lower costs 
When people opt for green burials, they don’t have to worry about having an extravagant, lavish burial. Green burials are simple and do not involve embalming, cremation, and fancy caskets. Instead, they include an eco casket, often a cardboard casket which is 100% biodegradable and leaves no trace. 

2. Helps protect natural resources 
If you have a love for nature in your heart and want to rest peacefully in a green place full of flowers and shrubs, then you should consider a green burial. Green burials are a wonderful way through which you can limit the use of natural resources and preserve natural landscapes. 

3. Helps eliminate the use of chemicals 
As the embalming process is quite popular in traditional burials, green burials help avoid this. This is a good step for the environment as the embalming process includes the use of many chemicals which might be harmful. Many workers also get exposed to this chemical which can also be dangerous for their health. 

How to make your funeral greener? 
To make your funeral greener, you can simply opt for an eco coffin as part of your service. These types of eco-friendly caskets have minimal impact on the environment compared to traditional timber coffins or MDF caskets. This means they are made from natural and sustainable materials that are ethically sourced and avoid use of chemicals in their production, meaning they biodegrade naturally into the earth.

Outside The Box cardboard caskets NZ are made from 100% natural, sustainable and recyclable materials, so they’re great options for those wanting a certified, greener choice when compared to traditional caskets or coffins. For something a bit more special, these caskets can even be personalised to truly honour your loved one.

If your final wish is to go green, the first step is to make sure you have these instructions noted in your living will in relation to your funeral arrangement preferences. Here you can note your wishes if you want an eco casket, green burial or any other personal desires that you want your family to carry out for you. Additionally, to noting this in your will, it is always important to let your family know of these wishes.

If you’re looking for a New Zealand Funeral Director to buy a locally made eco casket or cardboard coffin, then you should visit www.outsidetheboxcaskets.nz for more information.

​Contact us directly if you have any queries about our casket products or to find a stockist near you.