20 Feb FDANZ Conference ’25

Reflecting on the FDANZ Conference 2025: A Golden Experience in Nelson

As proud representatives of Auckland Memorial Park & Cemetery, Pip and I were delighted to attend this year’s FDANZ conference in sunny Nelson. Our company was honoured to be among the sponsors of this important industry event, which brought together funeral service professionals from across New Zealand.

The conference theme “Gold Standard” perfectly aligned with our values at Auckland Memorial Park, where we constantly strive to deliver exceptional service to our families. Throughout the three-day event, this theme wove through every aspect of the programme, challenging us to elevate our standards even further.

One of the highlights was our visit to Pic’s Peanut Butter World. While it might seem unusual for funeral professionals to tour a peanut butter factory, it proved to be an enlightening experience in understanding how another local business maintains consistently high standards in their operations. The dedication to quality and attention to detail resonated with our own commitment to excellence.

The educational sessions were particularly engaging this year. We delved into topics ranging from digital marketing to personal style. These sessions provided valuable insights that we’re excited to implement back home at Auckland Memorial Park. What stood out was how speakers consistently tied their presentations back to the Gold Standard theme, emphasizing the importance of exceeding expectations in every aspect of our service.

The Amazing Race activity through Nelson was a brilliant addition to the program. Racing through the city’s historic streets and landmarks not only helped us discover Nelson’s charm but also fostered team building in an unexpected way. Pip and I found ourselves partnering with colleagues from all over NZ and beyond, solving clues and completing challenges while learning about local history. It was a welcome break from the conference room and led to some memorable moments and plenty of laughter.

Nelson’s reputation for outstanding food and wine certainly held true. Each meal showcased the region’s finest offerings, from fresh seafood to local wines. The conference organizers thoughtfully arranged our dining experiences to facilitate networking, which led to many meaningful conversations with colleagues both old and new. These connections are invaluable in our industry, where sharing experiences and supporting one another is so crucial.

The gala dinner on the final evening was truly spectacular. Everyone embraced the Gold Standard dress code with enthusiasm – the ballroom was a sea of glamorous golden attire. It was heartening to see how our industry colleagues came together to celebrate not just the end of a successful conference, but our shared commitment to excellence in funeral services. The evening provided a perfect opportunity to strengthen relationships formed over the previous days and celebrate our collective achievements.

We cannot conclude without expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Linda Hartstonge and her dedicated team. Their meticulous attention to detail in organizing and coordinating the event exemplified the very Gold Standard we had gathered to discuss. From the thoughtfully planned sessions to the seamless logistics, their hard work ensured we could focus entirely on learning and connecting with our colleagues.

Returning to Auckland Memorial Park, we feel energized and inspired. The conference reminded us that while maintaining high standards requires constant dedication, it’s this commitment that makes our service truly meaningful to the families we serve. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have participated in such a valuable industry event and look forward to implementing our new insights in our daily work.

The 2025 FDANZ conference has set its own gold standard for future events, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s gathering. Until then, we’ll continue striving to deliver the exceptional service our families deserve, inspired by the collective wisdom and experience shared during our time in Nelson.

James Dunn.
Cemetery Manager.