Simon Manning

DIRECTOR

Simon spent his early years in Belmont, Petone and Lower Hutt, being educated at Belmont Primary, Wilford and Waterloo Schools prior to Hutt Intermediate and then Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College.

Simon's grandparents died when he was at College and from that point he knew that the funeral profession was where he wanted to be. Simon managed to obtain a part time position with a company in Wellington and upon leaving school started permanently with that company.

After 9 years with that company, in 1989, he decided to open Harbour City Funeral Home. In November 2004 Harbour City Funeral Home merged with Hutt Valley Funeral Services and he enjoys now working in the region he has always called home.

Simon lives with his partner in Wellington and very much enjoys helping people and offering support and assistance at this important time.

Danny Langstraat

Company Director

Born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Danny arrived in the Hutt Valley in 1983. He attended Hutt Intermediate and finished his schooling at Hutt Valley High School in 1992.

In February 1993 Danny started with Harbour City Funeral Home, Kilbirnie on a three month trial period and decided to stay on. Danny completed the Embalming course in 1995, achieving the top theory and top overall student for that year. In 1997, he became fully qualified by completing the Funeral Directors Course and attaining the Diploma in Funeral Services.

Since starting in 1993, Danny has had numerous roles within the company, periodically moving to and from other branches to fulfill those roles. In 2004 Danny became a Company Director and Shareholder.

Danny currently resides in Alicetown, Lower Hutt with his wife (Janelle) and their young daughters Petra, Skylah and April.

Brad McAneney

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Brad attended Campion College, a Catholic Coeducational College before moving to Auckland to study Social Work. He graduated in 1999 with a bachelor of Social Work from Massey University. He joined the funeral industry in 2001 as a trainee embalmer and now holds both the National Certificate in Embalming and the National Certificate in Funeral Directing. .

Brad enjoys both the embalming and funeral directing roles and holds customer service as a high ideal. "Our role is very flexible, some families want us to take care of all the finer details, while others are very hands on. I enjoy the diverse types of people that I meet and being of assistance at a time that can be very stressful for families."

Geoff Botherway

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Geoff was born in the King Country and then was raised and educated in the Waikato. At the completion of high school, he joined a funeral home in Hamilton as a trainee embalmer. He stayed with that company for four years completing his qualification in embalming during that time.

Geoff came to Wellington and joined our company in 2003. He has since completed his funeral directing training and now holds the highest qualification in our profession, the National Diploma in Funeral Services.

Geoff's spare time is shared between spending time with his daughter Sienna and the sports he loves, including rugby and rugby league, he also enjoys cycling in his spare time.

Sheryl Wright

Funeral Director

Sheryl Wright (nee Wooller) was born in Wellington and was educated at Kilbirnie School and Wellington East Girl's College. She has been married for 37 years and has two adult children and seven grand-children.

Sheryl's personal time is spent with her family, as they conveniently live in the Wellington region. In August of 1994 she joined Harbour City Funeral Home to assist in the administration side of the company, after several months she was invited to add to her role the challenge of becoming a funeral director.

Over the past 17 years, Sheryl has seen the company grow not only in professionally trained staff but also in the changes in the facilities we offer to our clients.

Sheryl has been on the fringe of the funeral industry for 41 years as her husband was previously a funeral director and she has seen the role change in many ways. Sheryl enjoys becoming involved in assisting families fulfill their needs in regards to planning funerals. Having the life experiences of being a friend, wife, mother and nana and also having experienced first hand the loss of those closest to us, she has a real empathy to those who she comes into contact with.

Andy Ellis

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Andy moved to Wellington in 2009 to work with Harbour City Funeral Home.

Andy first started out in the funeral industry as an 18 year old in 1996, working for a large family established funeral home in the greater Christchurch area. In 2001 he attained his qualification as an embalmer. He has been on the executive committee of the New Zealand Embalmers Association since 2005 and currently serves as its President.

Pierre Erasmus

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Born in Limpopo Province, South Africa, Pierre grew up spending his free time in the bush learning about the animals of Africa. After spending time travelling, Pierre moved to New Zealand in December 1999 and married Ruth. Pierre completed the Embalming Course in 2002. He went on to play an active role in education within the funeral industry, spending time as a tutor at Weltec.

Pierre currently resides in Wainiuomata, with his wife and their young sons, Charles and Christopher.

Nigel Rowland

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Nigel has lived in Wellington most of his life and knows the area well. He attended various schools around the Hutt Valley including one in Masterton before joining us in 1995 at the age of 18. Nigel obtained his qualification in Embalming and furthered his skills during this time.

In 2000 Nigel went overseas for three years and upon his return to New Zealand worked in another funeral company gaining his Diploma in Funeral Services. 

Since re-joining our company early in 2006, Nigel has managed yet another overseas trip, this time trekking around Europe for 6 months. He has now settled back into Wellington life again and is enjoying spending time with his family; with no children of his own he loves spending time with his nephews and nieces. 

Nigel feels he has gained a lot of experience through his travelling and he still has a vast list of places he would like to visit. He believes the main key to life is happiness, we should focus on what we enjoy and through that we will be happy.

Andrae Peipi

FUNERAL DIRECTOR

Andrae was born in Invercargill and educated in Western Southland a “Southlander” at heart.  At the completion of his high school year he joined a funeral home in Invercargill to become an “Apprentice Funeral Director” as it was known then.

Andrae relocated to New Plymouth in 2005 to join a local funeral home and remained in the area for 5 years, joining our team in 2010.

Andrae completed his National certificate in embalming in 2003 and has since completed his Diploma in Funeral Directing. Andrae was also appointed a Justice of the Peace in March 2009.

Andrae lives with his wife Kerryn where they are both members of the NZ Police Pipe band as non sworn staff members.  He has been appointed as the Drum Major of the band of which he is responsible for the drill and discipline.  In 2003 Andrae also attended the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland of which he enjoyed immensely. Andrae is also a member of the Homewood Masonic Lodge No. 447 and served as Worshipful master in a previous Lodge in New Plymouth.  Both roles have enabled Andrae to be a part of his community and enjoy the comradeship of others.

"Maggie The Boxer"

Maggie joined the company in December 2002. Maggie enjoys people and moves from branch to branch. She just loves balls and eating soft toys. When Maggie is at home she loves chasing birds and running after things only she can see.

Maggie loves her weekends at Martinborough and she likes playing with Aunty Glennis in the vineyard. When Maggie grows up she wants to be a wine taster.