Support Cat

Daisy was adopted from BOI animal rescue in early 2021.  You can find her hiding in a sunny spot or negotiating her next meal out of staff.

(09) 437 5799

office@morrisandmorris.co.nz

General Manager, Qualified Embalmer Dip.Emb MNZEA

Born and educated in Whangarei, I began my career at Morris and Morris in 2002 after having had an interest in the funeral profession for a number of years.  At the time I was working as a Merchandiser in Whangarei and was fortunate to be offered a full-time position as a trainee Embalmer/Funeral Director.  In the years that have followed I have trained in many aspects of the profession and have been called upon to use my embalming skills for disaster response here in New Zealand.  I now spend my time managing our Whangarei and Dargaville branches.  This is a busy and rewarding role that combines my interest in the funeral profession and business management.  I am a qualified Embalmer, hold the National Diploma in Embalming and a current practicing certificate issued by the New Zealand Embalmers Association.

(09) 437 5799

pault@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Group General Manager, Qualified Embalmer, MBIE

I began my career in the funeral profession in 1982 in the UK for a large funeral company called Francis Chappell & Son in Orpington, Kent. Having completed my training programme after about two and a half years I was promoted to Assistant Manager of the head office branch of Francis Chappell & Son at Orpington. I have also worked for a number of other funeral directors, both large and small in the UK. In 2004 I moved to NZ with my Kiwi-born partner, Teresa, and her two children. I worked part time for Lloyd Morris, the owner and Managing Director of Morris & Morris Ltd, up until he sold the business in November 2006 to Davis Funeral Services Auckland. I was lucky enough to be asked to take on the General Manager's job by the Directors of Davis Funeral Services and continue to enjoy the challenges and rewards that the job brings.

(09) 437 5799

gary@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Funeral Director

Born and raised in Auckland. Have lived in Whangarei since 2001, and have worked at Morris and Morris funerals since approximately 2011 when was fortunate enough to be offered a position as a funeral directors’ assistant initially. Did have about 2.5 years off in another job starting from near the beginning of 2019, only to return to Morris and Morris funerals full time round mid 2021. We have an excellent team here, and my colleagues are great to work with.

(09) 437 5799

annmarie@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Embalmer

Born and raised in Auckland, Glen Innes. I started working for a casket company in Onehunga. At first I had no idea what I had gotten myself into as I was standing in a room full of empty caskets, waiting to be interviewed. Within my 5years i spent there I felt myself being drawn to the embalming process more and more. Eventually I was blessed to be given the opportunity to work for Morris and Morris as an embalmer. It's quite funny how it all turned out. To see the change from beginning to the end is a very rewarding experience.

(09) 437 5799

affinity@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Funeral Director

I have always been interested in the industry and finally put my feelers out and it worked. I started my career as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in 2019. Before this my experience and knowledge has been vast, from Hospitality Management to timber treatment and processing, working in security and more caring roles as a Community Support Worker for people with disabilities and vulnerable children. I am a qualified Legal Executive, but Funeral Directing is where my passion is. I enjoy meeting new people, supporting and helping families through a very tough time, throughout the planning and arranging process to create a farewell that is uniquely dedicated to their loved one. There are challenges and is always something new to help keep me busy Afterhours I can be found with family and friends, my wife, three children and three cats. I love a good Kiwi Summer, BBQ paired with a decent glass of wine or ice cold beer. I look forward being here when you need…

(09) 437 5799

aaron@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Registered Funeral Director

After a diverse career in Tourism, Hotel Management, and Education, I joined Morris and Morris in 2018. I look after our Dargaville and Kaipara communities. Originally from Austria, I made Aotearoa my home and have lived happily at Baylys Beach for almost 30 years now, thus qualifying me to be almost a ‘local’!  Throughout my career, regardless of which work role I’ve been in, for me,  it is about people.  I strive to learn, understand, empower and support people and individual needs. As a Funeral Director assisting and guiding families through one of the hardest times of their life is a privilege and an extremely rewarding experience.  I work on the principle that nothing is too much trouble, I strive to create an environment of genuine care for every family. I hold the National Diploma in Funeral Directing and also a current practising certificate issued by the Funeral Directors Association of NZ.

(09) 439 8048

claudia@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Funeral Director I love my role as a funeral director and enjoy the challenges and rewards that this role brings.

I grew up on a farm near Te Hana and moved to Auckland at 16 to find my fortune. I meet my beautiful wife there and we have been together over 30 years. We moved to Whangarei 20 years ago and never want to leave. I am a proud father of 2, our daughter who has followed her mothers’ footsteps into the nursing profession, while my son is a Civil engineer. I have worked in a variety of different occupations, from security to truck driving, and Airport VIP transport, and more recently as a Case Manager with Work and Income. I am also a trained sports massage therapist; I obtained a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and teach self-defence classes in Northland. I love snorkelling our lovely northland coast and going hunting. I love my role as a funeral director and enjoy the challenges and rewards that this role brings.

(09) 437 5799

david@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Funeral Director's Assistant

Funeral Director's Assistant Born and raised in the Kaipara and live locally with my wife Karen. We have two adult sons who have both left home and are doing life with their partners. I have been involved in a variety of jobs through the years, from motor mechanic, retail sales and maintenance at the local hospital. Karen and I owned and ran a backpackers for 11 years, meeting some amazing people but covid put an end to that so I took on the role as a school caretaker. I feel honoured to be a part of a team that care and work with families in pressing times, helping to care for their loved ones with dignity and upmost respect. I enjoy music, movies, bike rides and spending time at home pottering in the garage.

(09) 439 8048

darren@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Funeral Director

I started out my working life training to be a hairdresser. I then became a primary school teacher after having children. I really enjoyed teaching for that time and love seeing these grown-up humans come up to me now, who were once so little and cute saying “Hi Miss Griffin, remember me?” My own 3 kids have been my whole life, now they are grown & moving on in the world. I am secretly looking forward to Grandma duties when they come! The opportunity to become a Funeral Director came unexpectedly, not something I had ever contemplated! It has been both varied and interesting, the different people I meet daily is amazing. The stories I am told can be heart-breaking, funny & lovely all at the same time. I really like being able to help & walk alongside families through what can be such an overwhelmingly painful time & give their loved ones a farewell that’s memorable in the best way possible.

(09) 437 5799

kerry@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Administration

(09) 437 5799

jo@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Qualified Embalmer, MNZEA

Born in Wellington in 1951 I entered the funeral profession in 1969 in my home town of Wellington.  I later moved to Dargaville to work in a small family funeral business for a time.  I then left the funeral profession to take up a job with an aerial topdressing company as a driver.  I married Kay in 1980 and shifted to Whangarei and commenced work with Morris and Morris in 1982 as a Funeral Director and Embalmer.  By 1994 I had completed my embalming qualifications with the British Institute of Embalmers.  We have two children Leanne and Carl, four grandchildren and a dog named Annie.  Both Kay and I love to travel and thoroughly enjoyed our last tour through Europe and the UK.  In my spare time I enjoy socializing with friends and a bit of gardening, but not too much!

(09) 437 5799

jerry@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Registered Funeral Director

National Diploma in Funeral Directing I was born in Auckland and have had a diverse career.I first trained as a Chef at the then Auckland Technical Institute in the late 70s. After 10 years in that profession and travelling overseas, I then trained as an Audio and Video Producer in Melbourne Australia. After returning to NZ, I worked for TVNZ as a news cameraman in Northland before working for the Ministry of Education in Wellington making audio and video programmes for schools. After moving back to Whangarei in 2002 with my wife Tanya and children Hannah and Jack, I started a small video production business and launched Channel North TV with other members of the local production community. During this time I also began video taping funeral services, which then led to me moving over to funeral directing and embalming in 2009. I feel very privileged to be able to help families at times of great loss and enjoy helping them celebrate the lives of their loved ones.

(09) 437 5799

john@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Embalmer

I was originally employed at Morris & Morris as a contractor.  Due to my odd working hours, I was often here after hours along with the on-call staff and was regularly asked to help out.  One day I was handed a scalpel and the rest is history. Each person who comes through my doors becomes my main priority.  It is important to me to understand each person's history, their life story.  Snippets of this information can come via the FD, family & even the deceased themselves.  If there is a specific thing they were particular about whether it be hair, nails or music they liked, where possible I will do everything I can to make it happen.  Playing the genre of music they like  while I care for them is my favourite. Not often seen out the front, very much a behind the scenes person is the way I prefer things.

(09) 437 5799

laan@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Registered Funeral Director

Originally from Auckland but with family in Northland, I moved to Whangarei in January 2005. I am married with eight children; enjoy reading, music, baking, crosswords and spending time with my family. I have done volunteer work with Auckland Central Victim Support and studied towards a law degree. Prior to joining the team at Morris & Morris in 2007, I worked with Bereavement Care Services at Middlemore Hospital. In 2013 I graduated from Weltec with a National Diploma in Funeral Directing, I also hold a current practising certificate issued by the Funeral Directors Association of NZ. As a caregiver by nature I find funeral directing to be a very rewarding career and a privilege to be able to assist families during a most difficult time.

(09) 437 5799

lorraine@morrisandmorris.co.nz

Adminstration

I was born in Rotorua and raised in Whangarei.  I started my funeral career in 2010 doing work experience for Morris & Morris before moving to Kaitaia to work at Geards funeral home learning all aspects of the industry including embalming, funeral directing, administration and even monumental.  In 2019 I moved back to Whangarei to be closer to my parents as I was expecting my second child; I then started at Morris & Morris in late 2019.  I love this industry and all that it has to offer. My free time is very busy with two toddlers a lifestyle block and breeding ragdoll cats...there is never a dull moment.

(09) 437 5799

rachel@morrisandmorris.co.nz