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Scams

March 31, 2024

Scams and funerals are not typically associated, but a recent incident involving the funeral of the Green Party’s MP Efeso Collins has brought attention to this unfortunate reality.


Scammers created a fake Facebook page and sent friend requests to acquaintances of Collins’ family, offering a link to view his funeral via livestream. Upon clicking the link, victims were prompted to pay a fee, often as low as $1. Once paid, scammers gained access to their bank details, allowing them to

siphon money from their accounts.


These fraudulent Facebook pages appear authentic, bearing the name of the funeral home, making them really easy to fall for. To prevent falling victim to such schemes, it’s advisable to visit the Gillions live streaming page directly and use the provided link.


If you are asked to pay a fee to view a Gillions funeral, disregard the link, report the profile to Facebook or

the relevant social media platform, and let us know. Gillions will never charge viewers to watch a live-streamed service.


We also occasionally receive emails asking us to provide services for a family member, but we can’t contact the person wanting the service, for a number of interesting reasons, the latest being, that the person was on the ‘high seas’.  They requested that we pay in advance for elements of a service, the latest being a non-existent jazz band.


Navigating the internet, and potential scammers is a bit like being on the ‘high seas’ ourselves.


We endeavour to do our best to keep “scammer free” but if we do get a notification of a scam using our name, we will place a notification on our Facebook page - the official one!

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March 18, 2025
If you have been keeping up with the news lately you may have noticed several distressing stories about a lack of care demonstrated by some funeral directors when being contracted by bereaved families after the loss of their loved one. There is no government regulatory authority for funeral directors in New Zealand but all funeral directors must comply with legal requirements around care of the deceased as specified in the Burials and Cremations Act. In addition, there are requirements for fair pricing and contracts under the Fair Trading Act, as well as obligations that apply under the Consumer Guarantees Act. We are members of the Funeral Directors Association so adhere to the ethics and standards that are part of our membership. We know that transparency of pricing is important along with ensuring that the options chosen work with families’ budgets. We regularly provide detailed pricing estimates along with information to help with farewell planning. Our many years of experience have also shown us that it is important to be looking at the ‘big picture’ when choosing a service provider. When you engage Gillions to look after arrangements for your loved one you will have the comfort and assurance that they will be well looked after from the time we transfer them to our care until the time we take them to the crematorium or cemetery. Our care for you continues beyond this time as we know that grief does not have a time limit.
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We’re often asked whether children should be involved after a family member's death, and if so, how? While you know your children best, our general advice is to include them as much as possible. Children will take cues from the adults around them, so if you're open and honest, they will likely follow suit. Answer their questions directly but avoid unnecessary details unless they're asked. Their inquiries will be shaped by their age and previous experiences, such as the death of a pet. Children under 7 may not fully understand that death is permanent, universal, and involves the body stopping completely. They may ask more literal questions, like "Who will Nan play with in heaven?" or "Who will take me to the park?"
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In some cultures, being around the deceased is a natural part of life, but in Western culture, we’ve moved away from this. At Gillions, we believe in supporting families to be as involved as they wish in caring for their loved one after they’ve passed. This may include helping to dress them, spending time with them, or bringing them home before the funeral. While it’s natural to feel unsure about this, we often hear from families that the experience was deeply meaningful. Dressing a loved one can feel like a final act of love, especially if you helped care for them before they passed. We encourage children to be part of this process too.
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Grief is a deeply personal journey, influenced by past experiences and the circumstances of loss. When a death is sudden, for instance, grief can feel more complex and harder to navigate than when the death was expected. While many find their own path through grief, others may require additional support 
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Lets get talking
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