Creating a Safe Space for Discussing Life and Mortality: Welcome to South Canterbury Death Cafe

Death Cafe South Canterbury -
​Timaru (est 2021)

​Hello, Kia Ora, and welcome to the South Canterbury Death Cafe.
​We meet around six/eight weekly at Timaru Public Library on Sundays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Our Death Cafe is a space where people can discuss death, allowing them to live more fully. We gather as equals to share our thoughts and experiences about death and dying without any set agenda. ​
Jade Whaley smiling and holding a chocolate cake decorated with
Honoured to bring Death Cafe to Timaru and South Canterbury in July 2021
We are a friendly, non-judgmental group. We all eventually face death, learning from one another to become more informed and at ease with the idea. We offer a thoughtful discussion about the end of life and share our experiences, thoughts, and fears.​​

Participants are encouraged to support each other without any specific conclusion, belief system, or course of action. Please bring an open mind and an open heart.

Our group offers a place to sit, relax, and engage in open-minded and open-hearted discussions about aging, dying, and death. We aim to help people make the most of their lives by embracing these hard conversations in a safe space.
Do you want to join our next cafe?   Contact  Jade  

Upcoming Timaru MEETING DATES 2025

Adults welcome, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, religion, faith, ethnicity, disability, or experience with death. Our conversations are open and respectful, creating a compassionate environment where everyone can express themselves freely.
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  • Sunday 20th July  1:00pm ~ 2:30pm  at Timaru Public Library 
  • Sunday 7th September  1:00pm ~ 2:30pm  at Timaru Public Library 
  • Sunday 2nd November  1:00pm ~ 2:30pm  at Timaru Public Library 
Join  Death Cafe South Canterbury 
Crystal heart, bowl of healing stones, and fresh wildflowers on a white table beside a box of tissues, set in a calm, sunlit room. A peaceful setting for a South Canterbury Death Café, offering gentle end-of-life conversations and emotional support.
Death Cafe South Canterbury at the Timaru Public Library
Our group follows the protocols and outline of established global death cafes. 

​​We have discussed many things over the years, from what makes a good death or what is on our bucket list, death in different cultures, assisted dying, and near-death experiences (NDEs). 

We discussed philosophy, the meaning of life, and our own experiences. The hot topics of our most recent meetings were water cremations, green burials, ageing parents, and DIY funerals. The participants led the discussion during the meeting.

​ At Death Cafe South Canterbury, we don't promote any particular conclusion, belief system or course of action.
IMPORTANT. It is not intended as a counselling group or grief support. It may not suit people who are recently bereaved or who are actively grieving.

WHAT IS A DEATH CAFE?
Death Cafe is a 'social franchise' which means that people who sign up follow the guidelines and principles of Death Cafe. 

A Death Café is a relaxed and welcoming space where people, often strangers, come together to discuss death and dying over a cuppa. There's no set agenda, no pressure, and nothing to sell -just honest conversation in a supportive environment.

The idea originated in the UK in 2011, conceived by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid, inspired by the "café mortel" gatherings of Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz. Since then, it has become a global movement with thousands of events held worldwide, including here in Aotearoa.

The goal?  To make it easier to talk about death, so we can all make the most of our (finite) lives.

Death Cafés aren't counselling or grief support groups, they're informal conversations about a topic we'll all face one day. People share thoughts, experiences, fears, curiosities - or simply listen.  A facilitator (Jade Whaley) helps guide the discussion and ensures the space feels safe and inclusive for everyone.

Death Cafés are always free to attend, and all adults are welcome.
**Please note it is not suitable for children

   👉​ Blog post on   death cafe
MEETING DETAILS
Our meetings are currently in Timaru, but if there is enought interest meetings can be in Lake Tekapo and Geraldine.

Contact Jade to be added to the Timaru Death Cafe newsletter. There are limited numbers, so you must book your space. Contact Jade by phone, or email here 
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Everyone is welcome, but because of our conversations,  unfortunately, it is NOT suitable those under 18 years

   👉​ All you need to know   death cafe

Please Join our facebook group here