Meet Our Team
Morris & Morris
Meet the People Behind the Care
At Morris & Morris Funeral Directors, our business is built on more than experience — it’s built on relationships.
Our friendly and fully trained team shares a deep commitment to delivering more than just excellent funeral care. We take pride in creating genuine, long-lasting connections with the families we serve, offering support that’s both personal and professional.
It’s these relationships — the trust, understanding and quiet strength shared during life’s most difficult moments — that bring meaning to the work we do. When you walk through our doors, you’ll be met by people who care deeply, listen attentively, and are here to walk alongside you with compassion and respect.
Paul Tattersall
General Manager, Qualified Embalmer Dip.Emb MNZEA
Born and educated in Whangarei, I began my career at Morris & 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.
Ann-Marie Lynch
Funeral Director
I was born and raised in Auckland. I have lived in Whangarei since 2001 and have worked at Morris & Morris Funerals since approximately 2011 when I was fortunate enough to be offered a position as a Funeral Directors’ Assistant initially. I 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.
Affinity Griffin
Embalmer
Born and raised in Auckland, Glen Innes. I initially 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 the five years 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 & Morris Funerals 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.
Aaron Gray
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 can be challenges and there is always something new to help keep me busy. After hours 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 to being here when you need…
Claudia Guthrie
Registered Funeral Director
After a diverse career in Tourism, Hotel Management, and Education, I joined Morris & Morris Funerals 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.
David Gray
Funeral Director
I grew up on a farm near Te Hana and moved to Auckland at 16 to find my fortune. I met 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, more recently as a Case Manager with Work and Income. I am a trained sports Massage Therapist. I obtained a black belt in Taekwondo 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.
Darren Jones
Funeral Director's Assistan
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 utmost respect. I enjoy music, movies, bike rides and spending time at home pottering in the garage.
Jerry Brittenden
Qualified Embalmer
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 & Morris Ltd 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!
Laan Griffin
Qualified Embalmer Dip.Emb MNZEA
I was originally employed at Morris & Morris Funerals 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 for me to understand each person's history, their life story. Snippets of this information can come via the Funeral Director, 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.
Lorraine Murnane
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 Funerals 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. 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.
Natasha Cordiner
Funeral Director
I have worked in the Health and Disability sector from the age of 17 in Whangarei, Rotorua and Australia. Whangarei is now my home base and I have been honored with the opportunity to join the team at Morris & Morris Funerals. I look forward to working alongside you, family and friends to ensure the funeral experience that best reflects you and or your loved one is delivered with professionalism, care and sincerity.
Rachel Mullaney
Administration
I was born in Rotorua and raised in Whangarei. I started my funeral career in 2011 doing work experience at Morris & Morris Funerals before moving to Kaitaia to work at Geard's 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 Funerals in late 2019. I love this industry and all that it has to offer. My free time is very busy with two children a lifestyle block and breeding ragdoll cats...there is never a dull moment. I hold the National Diploma in Funeral Directing and also a current practising certificate issued by the Funeral Directors Association of NZ.
Cindy Balfour
Funeral Director
If you would like to get in touch
Dani Hewitson
Administration
If you would like to get in touch
Abba
Support Dog
Abba was adopted when she was the young age of 9 in 2024 by our General Manager Paul and has never left his side since. You can find her curled up in his office or in the staff room relaxing on the couch.
Daisy
Funeral Home Cat
Daisy, our much-loved support cat, brings calm and comfort to the team — especially when there’s food involved.