The Casketeers

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The Casketeers
Created byAnnabelle Lee-Mather
Directed bySusan Leonard
StarringFrancis Tipene
Kaiora Tipene
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerPhilip Smith
ProducersCarmen J. Leonard
Anna Lynch
Running time23m
Production companyGreat Southern Pictures
Release
Original networkTVNZ 1
Original release13 January 2018 (2018-01-13) –
present (present)

The Casketeers is a New Zealand reality television series that was first broadcast 13 Jan 2018 on . The series follows a New Zealand couple, Francis and Kaiora Tipene, who own and run Tipene Funerals, a funeral parlor with branches in the Auckland suburbs of Onehunga and Henderson, as well as the other funeral directors and assistants employed there.[1]

The series combines humour and pathos[2] by focusing in on families and staff on the stories of individual deaths and bereaved families, the trials and triumphs of running a business, local and traditional funeral and grief practices, and the quirks and relationships of the Tipenes and their staff.

The series features heavy use of Te reo Māori, both in the everyday English narrative and also in the counselling the casketeers provide to their clients. The Māori words spoken by the couple are displayed on screen alongside an English translation.

Season 1, tells the story of the business and the running of the funeral home and the cultural diversity of the practice around the uplifting of the dead through to the final burial an introduction of staff and interviews throughout the episodes.

Season 2, is a follow on of season 1 with many surprises and turns, including the quirkiness of husband and wife and introductions of new staff members and the roles they play and everyday struggles that you would expect Everyday People to have to go through.

Season 3 brings more heartbreak, sadness and love to the Casketeers, focussing on both branches an more staff members an topics that are not talked about also expansion and services that are conducted buy the Casketeers. Season 4, shows the practices around COVID-19 and the impact on family and cultural diversity and the complications of running the funeral business and the impact on burials and cremation and also the impact on families not being able to have the traditional service according to their heritage and cultural believes due to the impact of COVID-19-throughout 2020.

Throughout the seasons and episodes we are shown great team building activities and also the casketeers show great love and respect and dignity to those that are no longer living. Also throughout the entire seasons it shows how much compassion, empathy, sympathy, care and respect the Casketeers have for the families. With some laughter and comedy throughout.

Cast[]

  • Francis Tipene, founder and co-owner of Tipene Funeral Homes.
  • Kaiora Tipene, Francis's wife and co-owner of Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Fatafehi "Fehi" Tamale, funeral director at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Nona Bukalich, funeral director at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Andrew Thompson, funeral director at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Stephanie Samu, funeral director at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Logan Tipene, funeral director at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Vanessa Tamale, receptionist at Tipene Funeral Homes and Fehi's sister-in-law
  • Lync Hetaraka, maintenance at Tipene Funeral Homes
  • Jay Evans, imbalmer for Tipene Funeral Homes (season 4- )

Development and reception[]

The series was considered "an unexpected runaway success" in New Zealand.[2][3] In December 2018, the show was released internationally on Netflix. A second series of the show aired on TVNZ 1 beginning 14 Jan 2019 and was made available for streaming globally on Netflix in 2019. The show's production company, Great Southern Pictures, plans to seek funding to create a third season.[4] The show's first two seasons were funded by Te Māngai Pāho, a funding body that promotes Māori language and culture.[3] Māori is spoken throughout the series as well as English, and the series credits are listed in both languages.

Episodes[]

Season 1[]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Directed byOriginal air date
11Susan Leonard and Annabelle Lee-Mather13 January 2018 (2018-01-13)
A married couple, Francis and Kaiora Tipene, run Tipene Funerals. The show follows their business and the funerals they put on, respectfully dealing with the family of and depictions of the deceased, while also following their relationships with their staff, and their family relationship.
22Susan Leonard3 February 2018 (2018-02-03)
Francis must organise the tangi for a member of his whanau, as well as a young mother who dies unexpectedly. Traditional funeral practices are covered. On a more humorous note, Francis makes a decision to purchase a vehicle of questionable quality, against Kaiora's wishes.
33Susan Leonard20 January 2018 (2018-01-20)
Francis and his staff lead the burial of someone whose body has been returned to Aotearoa from Australia. A new funeral director leads her first solo funeral. Francis struggles to convince Kaiora of his desperate need for (yet another) leaf blower.
44Susan Leonard27 January 2018 (2018-01-27)
Funeral director Fiona directs a Tongan funeral. Francis makes questionable business decisions because of his love for his community. On a lighter side, the staff argues over the identity of a cookie thief.
55Susan Leonard10 February 2018 (2018-02-10)
For his health, Francis must go back to the gym, which he doesn't enjoy. The staff prepare the body of a Niuean fisherman for a journey.
66Susan Leonard13 January 2018 (2018-01-13)
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.

Season 2[]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Directed byOriginal air date
71Susan Leonard14 January 2019 (2019-01-14)
The Tipene funeral home has new staff members, and Francis has a new look. The Tipene funeral home staff oversee a funeral and the exhumation of a WW1 veteran.
82Susan Leonard21 January 2019 (2019-01-21)
The Tipene funeral home prepares for renovations. Fiona and Francis direct two funerals.
93Susan Leonard28 January 2019 (2019-01-28)
The staff direct the funderal of an honored kaumatua whose body has been flown in from Dunedin.
104Susan Leonard4 February 2019 (2019-02-04)
Francis trains a new staff member in funeral direction. The staff direct the funeral of a young Fijian woman.
115Susan Leonard11 February 2019 (2019-02-11)
Francis's efforts to alter the incorrect appearance of the husband of a grieving widow show his dedication to his customers and his respect for the traditions of their cultures.
126Susan Leonard18 February 2019 (2019-02-18)
Fiona directs the funeral of a Niuean man. The staff attempts yoga and meditation as a team-building exercise.
137Susan Leonard25 February 2019 (2019-02-25)
Viewers see more of the process of how death is handled culturally as a funeral case requires special attention from the embalmer.
148Susan Leonard4 March 2019 (2019-03-04)
Can Kaiora prevent Francis from making yet another terrible vehicle purchase?

References[]

  1. ^ Casey, Alex (14 January 2018). "The Casketeers is an instant Kiwi classic". Classic. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Casketeers: putting the fun into funerals". Radio. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Ainge Roy, Eleanor (25 February 2018). "The Casketeers: how two Māori funeral directors became beloved Netflix stars". Beloved. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Netflix to stream The Casketeers, a show about Māori funeral directors". Netflix. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2019.

External links[]

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