Our History

In 1963 it was becoming evident that when the lease on 180 Bank Street expired, new premises would need to be found. After a considerable search, the property at 126 Bank Street was purchased in 1964 with the intention of building new funeral premises to their specifications. By mid 1967 construction had started and the new Funeral Home would include a Chapel, viewing rooms, working area and garaging the business operated here from April 1968. During the 1960's business was increasing and in the later part of the decade additional full time staff were employed. In August 1971 Mrs Morris's eldest son Lloyd commenced full time duties and in 1976 he was appointed manager with Mrs Morris still retaining the position of Governing Director.

In 1977 Morris & Morris Ltd bought two adjoining properties in Norfolk Street with the intention of extending the building and expanding the business. They were kept as residential units but as time went on it was realised that the company would be better served by a complete shift of property rather than an extension.

By 1986 it was realised that the mortuary at Bank Street needed enlarging, and parking at the site became a problem as the Chapel was unable to cope with the increasing number of people attending funerals, so for these and other reasons it was decided to again purchase a property in Kamo Road and this would be the site for the new larger building for Morris & Morris Ltd. The original Morris & Morris Ltd sign was removed from Bank Street and placed in position at Kamo Road to keep the old image, and give the public a sense of continuity, and an idea of where Morris & Morris Ltd would be in the coming future.

The official opening of Morris & Morris Ltd's new complex was held on 17 September 1988. The new building was highlighted as being the most modern funeral facility in the country. In 1990 Morris & Morris Ltd received the honour of having its manager Mr Lloyd Morris elected as the president of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand.

As the next generation of Morris's began a new era in the complex on Kamo Road, the previous generation slowly began to take a back seat in the business and personal decisions made by the company. After some 44 years of service in funeral directing with her company of Morris & Morris Ltd, Mrs Mabel Morris retired on 30 March 1992. From the beginnings of a business in 1944 and opening of the new state of the art complex in 1988, Morris & Morris Ltd truly became a family business and a big part of the Whangārei community.

Morris & Morris was owned by the Morris family up until it was purchased in 2006 by the Little family, a well-known and respected family of funeral directors from Auckland. Paul Tattersall, General Manager, heads our very experienced team at Morris & Morris.

We believe the company still operates today with the same level of care and professionalism that it provided in the 1940’s with all the modern conveniences and technology of today’s world to provide the complete funeral experience.

Morris & Morris are members of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand, the national body that sets professional and ethical standards for member firms. Our embalmers are members of NZEA – New Zealand Embalmers Association, the national body that recognises and sets qualifications in embalming practices.