The Casketeers

The Casketeers is a New Zealand reality television series that was first broadcast 13 Jan 2018 on TVNZ 1, Netflix and SBS. 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.

The series combines humour and pathos by focusing on families and staff, 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 extensive 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, the cultural diversity of the practice from uplifting of the dead through to the final burial, and interviews with the staff throughout each episode.

Season 2 follows on from season 1 with many surprises and turns, including the relationship between husband and wife and introductions of new staff members, the roles they play, and everyday struggles.

Season 3 brings more heartbreak, sadness and love to the Casketeers, focusing on both branches, more staff members and topics that are often not talked in a public space. This season also covers the expansion of services offered by the Tipenes.

Season 4 shows the impact that COVID-19 had in Aotearoa New Zealand on the funeral business and funeral traditions within different cultures.

Season 5 follows after much of the restrictions for COVID-19 have been relaxed, and business returns to normal operations.

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 Bakulich, 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, embalmer for Tipene Funeral Homes (season 4- )

Development and reception
The series was considered "an unexpected runaway success" in New Zealand. 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 first two seasons were funded by Te Māngai Pāho, a funding body that promotes Māori language and culture. Māori is spoken throughout the series as well as English, and the series credits are listed in both languages. Both seasons were removed from Netflix in March 2023.