Coffin Club

New Zealand Once a week, members of a New Zealand coffin club get together for tea, chat, and make their own resting place.

Kevin Heyward, 79, of Hawke's Bay is crafting his own coffin to look like a classic Austin Healey car with the registration number DEAD1A.

“My daughter came up with the idea,” said the car enthusiast. His resting place was later equipped with a fake steering wheel, windshield, rubber wheels with metal hubcaps, wooden fenders, hood and side mirrors. For the convenience of the pallbearers, Kevin also designed six wooden handles around the coffin.

"It (the coffin) is quite heavy because I am quite a big man. I have told my six nephews to lift weights regularly because one day they will be carrying it," Mr. Heyward said.

The club Kevin and many of his old friends are called Hawke's Bay. It is one of four open coffin clubs in New Zealand. The first was founded in 2010 in Rotorua. Some clubs claim to have as many as 800 registered members.

Two members of the Tauranga Coffin Club in New Zealand decorate their future resting place. Photo: George Novak — Two members of the Tauranga Coffin Club in New Zealand decorate their future resting place. Photo: *George Novak*

At the Hastings Club, Jim Thorne, 75, built a coffin painted to look like a racetrack because of his passion for big bikes. The coffin is now on display in his garage alongside his motorcycle collection. Most of Thorne's friends are surprised and curious about why he prepared his own coffin.

"Some people think death is taboo, unlucky and should not be mentioned, but it is just a natural thing that everyone has to go through. It's better if you prepare for the future," said the 75-year-old man.

Helen Bromley, secretary of the Hawke's Bay Coffin Club, said its members are all elderly people who meet weekly to talk and share life issues, including death.

"I think everyone here accepts that everyone has to leave. The club is a place to help people prepare in advance, hoping to reduce the burden on relatives because of the increasing funeral costs," said Ms. Helen.

The country's National Funeral Directors Association says the average cost of a funeral in New Zealand is around NZ$10,000 (VND151 million). Coffin prices range from NZ$1,200-4,000. While joining the coffin club for a fee of NZ$30, each member will be given a plywood coffin in three available designs.

The Coffin Club in Hastings, New Zealand. Source: *TWP*

The club also produces urns for sale to local crematoriums and makes free coffins for newborns. Members also knit blankets, teddy bears, pillows and figures to place in the coffins.

Christina Ellison, 75, who lost her baby daughter in 1968, said it was comforting to know the club was helping bereaved families.

Minh Phuong (According to AFP )

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