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. He maimai aroha tēnei ki a Kiritokia ete Tomairangi Paki.

Tears of the people, like rain from the heavens

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. He maimai aroha tēnei ki a Sonny Abraham rāua ko Charlotte Ruka.

Although it is small, it is precious

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. He maimai aroha tēnei ki a Tevita Kilogram rāua ko Isobelle Ihaka.

People pass away, but the land remains forever

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. He maimai aroha tēnei ki a Aunty Kataraina Kanara rāua ko Chozyn Koroheke.

My young tōtara has been broken

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. He maimai aroha tēnei ki a Zion Harris-Davis rāua ko Sisikefu Fusiika Sisikefu

Farewell oh son, the morning tide is yours, the evening tide is mine

Funeral directory Fiona oversees a Samoan burial, and the Tipene family prepares a funeral for a young extended family member. As advertising for their funeral home, Francis wants the staff to put on a show for the local rest home. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Eden Tipene rāua ko Lili Ilo Puletua.

Be it small, it is an act of generosity

Francis has new staff and a fresh new outlook on life. A whanau spend the night in the chapel and a WW1 veteran needs to be removed from his grave and taken home. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Pukeroa Monty Busby rāua ko Somers Heruika Edwards.

Return to your ancestral mountains to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Delvyn Emmie Sope rāua ko Leanne Victoria Wright.

My prized albatross plume is drenched by the mists of sorrow

A respected kaumatua passes away and is flown in from Dunedin and Kaiora supports Scotty through a traumatic funeral he must direct. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Karaka Rapata rāua ko Jeremiah Fade Frenswa.

The tip of the moon has broken away

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Telesia Luafaletele Ale rāua ko Kuila Tuivoavoa.

My love for you will never wane

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Peter Koti rāua ko Kerry John Radovanovich.

A child's love for their father is beyond compare

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Nicholas "Nick" Karetu rāua ko Koukouiki Togia Posimani Makaea.

A great mountain can be ascended, but not a great man

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Wayne Teleso Amiga rāua ko Tafao Lealiifano Kalolo.

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Yvette Heka rāua ko Sosaia tei Hausia.

As one frond dies, another frond rises to take its place

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Kori Warren Karena rāua ko Mario Silvio Dunatov.

Courage has many resting places

Francis plans his biggest surprise yet for Kaiora to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Kaiora arranges a special funeral with a procession of Harleys. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Judith Anne Blundell rāua ko Joshua Thane Duprie Waipouri.

Words can't express how much I love you

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Kiritokia "Chrissie" Mitchell.

Farewell to you, I shall return home

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Isaac Mataatua Rakanui rāua ko Michael John Andzue.

A white heron of a single flight

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Ivy May Gibbs rāua ko Anaru Harley Young.

A person of great endurance

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Elizabeth "Betty" Anne Southey rāua ko Kay Daisy Greaves.

Every star has its own luminance

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Malua-Tai Lei Filimaua rāua ko Reginald Paul Perepe-Perana.

People are precious

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Tapolene Matagi rāua ko June Ngaia Chaplin.

Man is not like the weathered branch of the tītoki, he lives on through his descendents

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.

The sun shines as I shed a tear

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. WARNING: This episode deals with the issue of suicide.

Sleep the never ending sleep

Francies instigates an unusual team building episode and Nona directs the emotional funeral of a family friend

This is the day that tears are shed

The death of a young teenager hits home for the Tipenes and Kaiora upgrades one of Francis' favourite toys. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Blake Issac Wai Ariki James Heather.

A constant love, a never ending love

Francis considers an unusual way of celebrating his Tongan whakapapa. Jay deals with the emotional toll of embalming a three month old pēpī.

A human bond can never be severed

A whanau trip to Queenstown is interrupted when Kaiora is called north to care for a dearly loved Aunty.

Love surrounds us

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.

In life, in death, your family is everything

The team of Tipene funerals go head to head in a ten pin bowling match, but rivalries are set aside to care for a special kaumatua.

Like the mighty Maire in the forest

Francis enlists the help of Nikora and Brady to get his latest purchase of angel statues ready for Kaiora's approval and a Māori Muslim tangi is the first of its kind for Tīpene Funerals.

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.

Connections between people cannot be severed whereas those of a canoe-rope can

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.

Gloom and sorrow prevail, day and night

A power outage challenges Jay in the mortuary, while Covid restrictions mean families need to get creative to grieve their loved ones.

Let us nurture our sister and she will mourn for us

The staff are being measured up for bespoke tailored suits; Tamale finds the process intrusive while Fehi quite enjoys it. A staunch Warriors fan is dressed in her supporter gears as the family prepares to lay her to rest. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Rachel Elizabeth Curry rāua ko Ivoni Fo Holoholo a Tungi Vaea.

Love received demands love returned

The death of a beloved Tipene whanau member is complicated by Francis' health issues. While the staff seem unconcerned about Francis' absence, Kaiora's nursing skills leave a lot to be desired. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Pio Wiremu Jacobs.

The cycle is complete

Francis makes a visit to the Porirua branch to cover for COVID-sick staff and is challenged by basic technology as Kaiora comes to the rescue. A loved grandfather and member of the local RSA makes the long journey north to be buried with his parents.

When the fern frond dies, another rises in its place

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. He maimai aroha tenei ki a Stanley Neho.

When a shoal of maomao passes seaward of Nukutaurua, they will never return

Jay & Francis take care of Stephen Watson & his beloved cat Smoochie. Tamale straddles the line between profession and family when he directs the funeral of his cousin Toni Va’enuku.

If a reed stands by itself it may break, but if in a group, it will be unbreakable

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.

You shall be mourned by those you leave behind

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.

A full cycle is completed

Francis offers to get on his knees to help lay floor tiles & the Stanley Neho Function Centre opens with a big celebration.

Let us stay close together, not far apart

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.

When the fern frond dies, another grows to take its place

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.

Let us mourn their passing, for it is permanent. Not like that of the moon, set to rise again

The next generation of the Tipene dynasty is in the whare earning his keep. Pere Wihongi fulfils a long held dream for Francis & Kaiora. John Te Wake & Sylvia King are mourned by their loved ones.

Connections between people cannot be severed, whereas those of a canoe-rope can

The whānau travel to Fiji to visit someone special & witness the funeral of a family member. There's a joyful surprise & emotional celebration

Hold fast to your beliefs, look toward the horizons of the sea

Francis and Kaiora Tipene are the passionate proprietors of Tipene Funerals. This is a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes of their business and into this little-explored but vital service, where our culture's last taboo is being addressed with dignity and aroha.

All Episodes of The Casketeers

Browse all episodes of The Casketeers

Season 1

Tears of the people, like rain from the heavens

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/13/2018

Although it is small, it is precious

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/20/2018

People pass away, but the land remains forever

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/27/2018

My young tōtara has been broken

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/3/2018

Farewell oh son, the morning tide is yours, the evening tide is mine

Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/10/2018

Be it small, it is an act of generosity

Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/17/2018