Francis and Kaiora Tipene are the passionate proprietors of Tipene Funerals. Go behind the scenes of their business, where our culture's last taboo is addressed with dignity and aroha.
A beloved composer and teacher returns from Australia for burial at home in Aotearoa, and Francis struggles to let go of the reins when his newest Funeral Director leads a funeral on her own.
While Francis' right hand woman Fiona is busy with an emotional Tongan funeral, Francis fumes over missing biscuits and upsets his wife Kaiora with an unwise business decision.
A close member of the Tipene whanau passes away and Francis is tasked with organising the tangi. Elsewhere a young mother is tragically taken, and her grieving family want to spend one last night with her.
The team prepare to send a Niuean fisherman back to his homeland, while struggling with a very busy day at the office. Elsewhere, Francis attempts to get his health back on track.
Season Final. Francis wants to put on a show for the local rest home. Meanwhile when a young relative tragically passes on; Francis, Kaiora and their children all help to prepare a beautiful farewell.
Francis and Kaiora Tipene take us back inside the world of funeral directing with heart-warming and hilarious honesty
The funeral home needs renovating and Francis is the man for the job. Nona showcases her skills as a celebrant but Francis is nervous to officiate the funeral of a delicate death.
A respected kaumatua passes away and is flown in from Dunedin and Kaiora supports Scotty through a traumatic funeral he must direct.
Francis has new staff member, Fehe, assist him for the first time and a young Fijian woman's funeral honours the inspiring performer that she was.
Francis deals beautifully with the dead, but is struggling to keep things alive at the funeral home. A grieving widow queries her husband's appearance and a staff member suffers great personal loss.
Nona cares for a Niuean man who dies suddenly and the death of an overweight man spurs Francis to find new, healthy ways to team build with his staff.
Francis wants to take funerals to the future, but he's having trouble convincing others to come along for the ride. A case Francis hasn't seen before requires special attention from the embalmer.
A bad van purchase comes back to haunt Kai but Francis promises this time will be different. Fehe directs her first Tongan funeral on her own and an emotional tangi proves that animals grieve too.
Francis and Kaiora juggle the newest member of their team as they care for a well loved sportsman who dies suddenly and a brave father arranging his own funeral.
Francis plans his biggest surprise yet for Kaiora on their wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Kaiora arranges a special funeral with a procession of Harleys.
Francis and Kaiora take a road trip to his home marae and we are gifted a rare glimpse of the three day tangihanga process, as his dear Aunty is laid to rest.
Kaiora is confronted by a very special case and a Returned Serviceman receives a gun salute at his funeral. Meanwhile, Francis is obsessed with the chapel reaching new heights of perfection.
Nona convinces the staff to try zumba for a good cause. An elderly woman delays her own funeral and Francis is surprised by a glamorous family breaking traditions on the marae.
Francis grapples with who is his number one amongst the staff. A loved mother passes away at home and one of Francis' cousins says goodbye to the neighbour who raised her as her own.
Nona farewells a close family member and the youngest daughter of ten organises her father's funeral. Meanwhile, Francis goes to great lengths to tidy the office.
Season Finale: Francis tries to introduce healthy work practices, but gets in way over his head. A woman returns home to one of the most sacred mountains in Māoridom and Denise helps a family farewell their beloved father.
Francis and Kaiora navigate the difficulties of supporting grieving whānau during COVID-19 while operating under strict guidelines. Plus, with the mortuary now up and running, the funeral home has a flamboyant new staff member.
With Tipene Funerals storing bodies during COVID-19, Francis goes on a shopping spree to decorate the freezer. Later, the loss of a young mother resonates through her community.
Francis instigates an unusual team building exercise and Nona directs the emotional funeral of a family friend.
The death of a young teenager hits home for the Tipenes and a Kaiora upgrades one of Francis’ favourite toys.
Francis considers an unusual way of celebrating his Tongan whakapapa. Jay deals with the emotional toll of embalming a three-month-old pepi.
A whanau trip to Queenstown is interrupted when Kaiora is called north to care for a dearly loved Aunty.
The staff pull together to remember a man with no family. Plus, Francis and Kaiora take a leap of faith, opening a new branch in Porirua.
Francis, Kaiora and the Tipene Funeral whanaue are back for another season of laughter and aroho. This season they continue to navigate Covid-19 and their new Porirua location.
Francis and the Porirua staff rehearse songs for a promotional performance at a local rest home which provides lots of laughs and delights the residents.
Francis acquires yet another gym membership and struggles through his first PT session. Feleki trains as an embalmer and news of a further lockdown has devastating consequences.
A power outage challenges Jay in the mortuary, while Covid restrictionns mean families need to get creative to grieve their loved ones.
The death of a beloved Tipene whanau member is complicated by Francis' health issues.
Season Finale: It's Kaiora's birthday and the staff lay on a surprise lunch - however the terrible shock that awaits them all will send celebrations crashing.
Why is Jesus on the floor? Kaiora and Jana try to find somewhere fitting to place the statue. Tamale straddles the line between profession and family while directing a funeral.
There’s a hole in the wall and it’s Francis’ fault, with his attempt at breakfast falling flat. Joan Whitford and Mr. Mulivai are farewelled by their loved ones.
Yet more new décor to deal with & everyone gets together for a shared Matariki kai. There are ghosts that need attention. Jack Taumaunu and Tagisia Sanelevi are farewelled by their loved ones.
Francis offers to get on his knees to help lay floor tiles & the Stanley Neho Function Centre opens with a big celebration.
The Queen is dead & Francis, desperate to be a part of the funeral, offers his services to Buckingham Palace officials. Baby Tevita Moeaki and Deon Hadley are mourned by their families.
World famous Tipene Funerals get surprise visitors from the USA and Francis is frustrated yet again by Fiona's tardiness. The families of Mr Chen and Mrs.Simoe Solomona grieve their loss.
The next generation of the Tipene dynasty is in the whare earning his keep. Pere Wihongi fulfils a long held dream for Francis and Kaiora. John Te Wake and Sylvia King are mourned by their loved ones.
The whānau travel to Fiji to visit someone special and witness the funeral of a family member. There's a joyful surprise and emotional celebration.
