JulienIn New Zealand, a warm, colourful, and wonderfully unexpected movement has taken shape. It blends craftsmanship, community spirit, affordability, and a surprisingly joyful attitude toward death. Welcome to the Kiwi Coffin Club, a grassroots initiative where people come together to design, build, and decorate their own coffins (or coffins for loved ones) in a supportive and uplifting space.
Far from being morbid, the Coffin Club transforms a usually taboo subject into a celebration of creativity, connection, and personal expression.
🌟 What Exactly Is the Kiwi Coffin Club?
The first Coffin Club began in 2010 in Rotorua, founded by former nurse Katie Williams. After witnessing the steep costs of traditional funerals and wanting people to have more control over their goodbyes, she created a workshop where locals, especially older adults, could build affordable, personalised coffins in a friendly and welcoming environment.
The idea caught on quickly, inspiring new clubs in places such as:
Rotorua
Tauranga
Golden Bay
Hokitika
Whangārei
Christchurch
Each club is volunteer-run, powered by community donations, shared tools, and plenty of laughter.
🎨 Creativity Meets Craftsmanship
One of the most striking parts of the Coffin Club experience is the finished coffins themselves. They are often vibrant, meaningful, and full of personality. Members decorate them with themes that reflect who they are and what they love, including:
Landscapes and beach scenes
Favourite hobbies like gardening or fishing
Music, books, or beloved sports teams
Tribal patterns or cultural symbols
Bright colours, glitter, mosaics, or family photos
Many participants describe the process as empowering. It feels like designing the last chapter of their story with intention, creativity, and joy.
🧡 More Than Coffins: A Space for Connection and Comfort
What brings people back each week isn’t just the woodworking and painting. It’s the community.
Members gather to:
Build and decorate
Share tea, biscuits, and conversation
Talk openly about life and death
Support each other through grief, loneliness, and big life transitions
For many seniors, the Coffin Club becomes a source of friendship and belonging. It reduces social isolation and offers a comforting space where end-of-life topics are approached with honesty and compassion.
💸 Affordability and Empowerment
Funerals in New Zealand can be expensive, often costing several thousand dollars. A Coffin Club build typically costs only a fraction of that. By making their own coffins, people avoid significant financial pressure and create something deeply meaningful.
This hands-on approach brings peace of mind. Members know their final resting place is ready, personal, and made with love—sometimes with their own hands.
🎶 A Celebration Rather Than a Farewell
Coffin Club funerals are often colourful, musical, and joyfully unique. Some have included disco balls, ukuleles, and lively parades. This spirit reflects the club’s core belief:
Death is part of life, so let’s approach it with creativity, community, and a sense of celebration.
🌍 A Movement That’s Spreading
What started in 2010 as a small community workshop in Rotorua has inspired similar clubs in Australia, Canada, the UK, and beyond. Documentaries and news features have highlighted the warmth and humanity of the movement, helping spark global interest in a more expressive and compassionate approach to end-of-life planning.
✨ Why the Kiwi Coffin Club Matters
The Coffin Club reminds us that:
Death doesn’t have to be taboo
Community can turn difficult conversations into meaningful connections
Creativity brings dignity to every stage of life
Planning for the end can be joyful, personal, and empowering
It is a movement grounded in kindness and practicality, showing what becomes possible when people gather with tools, imagination, and the courage to face life’s final chapter together.
Ressources:
General listing of Coffin Clubs across NZ (including links to many regional clubs)
