While The Front Page is on summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.   

This year, Tipene Funerals, best known for the television show 'The Casketeers', came under fire because one of its funeral directors allegedly swindled her grieving clients and put their dead relatives in plastic rubbish bags instead of the coffins they had paid for.  

It was only revealed when bodies in a public mausoleum were disinterred after Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Since then, Police revealed the scale of their investigation into former undertaker Fiona Bakulich, telling the Herald there are 10 bodies involved.  

She’s since appeared in court, facing a charge of misconduct in respect of human remains and nine of obtaining by deception. 

In August, we spoke to Herald journalist Raphael Franks – who began the investigation into this case.  

We also touched base with Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes about stats showing that burial and cremation costs to councils rose 50 percent in a year. 

New episodes return January 13th. 

Host: Chelsea Daniels 
Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin 
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

While The Front Page is on summer break, we&rsquo;re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.&nbsp; &nbsp;
This year, Tipene Funerals, best known for the television show 'The Casketeers', came under fire because one of its funeral directors allegedly swindled her grieving clients and put their dead relatives in plastic rubbish bags instead of the coffins they had paid for. &nbsp;
It was only revealed when bodies in a public mausoleum were disinterred after Cyclone Gabrielle.&nbsp;
Since then, Police revealed the scale of their investigation into former undertaker Fiona Bakulich, telling the Herald there are 10 bodies involved. &nbsp;
She&rsquo;s since appeared in court, facing a charge of misconduct in respect of human remains and nine of obtaining by deception.&nbsp;
In August, we spoke to Herald journalist Raphael Franks &ndash; who began the investigation into this case. &nbsp;
We also touched base with Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes about stats showing that burial and cremation costs to councils rose 50 percent in a year.&nbsp;
New episodes return January 13th.&nbsp;
Host: Chelsea Daniels Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. 

<ol>
<li>Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. </li>
</ol>

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.

Revisiting the Tipene Funerals burial scandal - and the soaring 'cost of dying'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/503f5999-36d7-4bc9-bf49-b24b017a14f8/transcript

Advertisement