Geoff joined the funeral industry in Hamilton at the completion of high school as a trainee embalmer and completed his qualification in embalming in Wellington in 2002. Geoff loved his time in Wellington so much that he made the move and joined our company in 2003. He completed his funeral directing qualification the following year.
Geoff served on the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Embalmers Association for many years, serving as the President for two terms.
Geoff enjoys the variety the funeral industry provides and loves walking the journey through a personalised, meaningful funeral with families, whatever form that might take. He has a passion for the ever-changing technology in the industry and enjoys helping the local community through education, he’s always happy to share his knowledge.
Geoff’s interests include all sports (especially rugby and league), exercise, travel, music & podcasts, but most of his spare time is spent with his partner and three daughters. On a Saturday you will find him at his beloved Poneke Football (Rugby) Club where is currently volunteering as a Board Member.
email: geoff@funeral-link.co.nz
After a personal experience in her late teens, Ruth aspired to help others in the same way a funeral director supported her. Knowing she needed to gain life experience first, the following years proved invaluable through having to run a home from a young age, a 2 ½ year move to the Himalayan Mountains in India and loads of travel to foreign places in between.
Ruth returned from overseas to care for a family member. She later joined Harbour City as a Funeral Director in early 2014 equipped with a cultured balance of life skills, compassion, a zest to learn and the want to serve her community. She enjoys a good laugh, values people from every walk of life and has a humanistic approach as problems are opportunities to learn.
Ruth is happily married and outside of work loves tending to her ‘as close to India’ slice of life in Ōhau.
email: ruth@funeral-link.co.nz
Brad attended Campion College, a Catholic co-educational 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 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."
email: brad@funeral-link.co.nz
I am from the UK and have been employed in the funeral profession since 2001. I always knew I wanted to work in funeral service from an early age.
I started my career as an arranger. I gained a huge amount of knowledge from dealing with bereaved families and achieved a lot of satisfaction helping people at such an important time.
I enrolled on the British Institute of Embalmers course in December 2012 and obtained my Diploma in Embalming in June 2015.
I relocated to Wellington with my husband Matt and dog Gabby in April 2016.
I look forward to my new life and career with Harbour City Funeral Home.
email: sarah@funeral-link.co.nz
Growing up in Upper Hutt, I had a wonderful childhood filled with fun and adventure. I was actively involved in various sports and enjoyed playing musical instruments, both in orchestras and on the electric guitar as I got older.
In my mid-teens, I got my first after-school part-time job at a local grocery store, where I loved interacting with new people. Throughout the years, I often contemplated what I wanted to do with my life. While working in the service and grocery industries for several decades, I always had a passion for becoming a funeral director. I felt that this profession would allow me to utilise all of my skills and make a meaningful impact on others' lives. I am grateful for the opportunity that has now presented itself, and I am eagerly looking forward to providing assistance to those in the community who are in need of creating a meaningful farewell.
email: blair@funeral-link.co.nz
Andy Ellis brings over 28 years of expertise in the funeral industry, specialising in embalming and funeral directing. His career highlights include serving on the National DVI Team following the Christchurch Earthquake and leading as President of the New Zealand Embalmers Association. Passionate about American Muscle Cars, Andy owns a stunning 1965 Mustang coupe. Beyond cars, he enjoys playing cricket and cherishes family time with his wife Max and their five children, aged 19 to 25. Their lively household engages in frequent trips, movie marathons, and quality moments together. Andy finds fulfilment in his role at Harbour City Funeral Home, dedicated to serving local communities. His blend of professional acumen and personal interests underscores his commitment to both his craft and family life.
email: andy@funeral-link.co.nz
Born and raised in wellington, Liam has been a tiler by trade for the last 7 years within the family business. Looking for change in career, Liam applied to be a trainee embalmer for Harbour City as he felt he would find it very rewarding and a job with purpose in the community. Liam is looking forward to the journey of becoming a qualified embalmer and learning from the best within the company. In his spare time, Liam loves to get out in nature for a hike, play golf, do the occasional baking and spend nights in with his 3 cats.
Born and bred in Wellington, Benjamin attended Tawa Intermediate, followed by Tawa College. Ben was considering what career avenue he might take, and the opportunity arose to get insight into what the industry might be like through a casual contract supporting the group. On completion of his casual work, a permanent role as a Funeral Home Assistant arose, and Ben jumped at the chance to learn more and contribute to supporting families in the community. Outside of work Ben enjoys spending time with family and friends and has a keen interest in gaming and cars.
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 fulfil those roles. For nearly 6 years; Danny served on the Funeral Service Training Trust (FSTT) as the rep for NZ Funeral Director’s Association.- FSTT was the body that had developed the Funeral Directing and Embalming Qualifications and was responsible for funeral service education in NZ.
Danny has always resided in Lower Hutt and was a keen football player, till age and injury told him a different story. Now he spends his time being an uber driver with his high-school sweetheart wife, to their four daughters and their very busy dance and social schedules.
email: danny@funeral-link.co.nz
Anthea attended Kāpiti College, leaving to work in banking, where over many years, she worked her way up through the various roles, from a teller position to ultimately becoming Branch Manager.
The death of Anthea's father in 2017 prompted her to reevaluate her life and she decided to pursue a long-held interest in the funeral industry. She has worked as a funeral director since and achieved the Certificate in funeral directing in 2019. Anthea feels incredibly privileged to be able to help and support people through the days following the death of a loved one.
In her spare time, Anthea enjoys spending time with her husband, Glen, her two daughters, and two granddaughters.
She is also an avid reader and traveller; when not travelling, she researches and plans her next adventure.
email: anthea@funeral-link.co.nz
Rob brings a diverse background to his new role in the funeral industry. He has successfully navigated roles in hospitality ownership with his restaurant Capitol and project management, showcasing his versatile skill set and leadership abilities. In his previous ventures, he demonstrated a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and project excellence.
Rob is a dedicated family man whose enthusiasm for life is extended to the great outdoors. He’s often found unwinding with his 2 boys mountain biking the awesome trail network in Wellington.
His new path in the funeral industry feels a positive fit where he brings his solid management expertise and compassionate approach to help families during their most challenging times. His transition into this field reflects his deep empathy and desire to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. With his caring nature and extensive experience, Rob continues to positively impact those around him, proving that his dedication to both family and community comes front and center.
email: rob@funeral-link.co.nz
Shelley was born in Nelson but grew up in Upper Hutt. After working out of the Wellington region for a couple of years, Shelley has returned to work in the Hutt Valley at Harbour City Funeral Home.
Shelley has two amazing adult children. Her son lives in the UK and her daughter lives just down the road from her home with her two granddaughters who she adores and loves spending time with.
Shelley has been in the funeral industry for 18 years, Shelley is a qualified embalmer and is now a funeral director, which she is incredibly passionate about. Shelley understands the importance of being there for bereaved families in their time of need.
Outside of work, Shelley loves spending time with family and friends. In her spare time, she enjoys climbing the escarpment track, and attempting to beat her previous time. Biking, taking ride classes and going to cafes on a Sunday morning.
email: shelley@funeral-link.co.nz
Sheryl has held an Accounts and Administration role with the company since October 2004.
She really cares about being able to help families wherever she can as they prepare for a funeral. After the funeral, Sheryl is always happy to help our client family’s deal with banks, lawyers and agencies like WINZ and ACC for funeral grants when families are not able to, or the process just seems too difficult.
Emma graduated from Massey University in 2010 with an Honours degree in Visual Communication Design, and also gained membership into the International Society of Typographic Designers. Membership is awarded to practicing designers who demonstrate, through the quality of their work, their commitment to achieving the highest possible standard of visual communication.
Emma is very passionate about her design work, with technical strengths in typography and graphic design. “I strive to achieve consistently high level results that meet requirements to the best of my ability”.
Born and raised in Taranaki, Myah has been captivated by creativity since childhood. Her journey took her to Wellington, where she pursued a four-year degree in Visual Communication Design at Massey University. During her studies, Myah discovered her passion for crafting designs tailored to specific audiences. With expertise in typography and human-centred design, she is dedicated to producing thoughtful and purposeful designs of the highest standard.
Anna, a Belgian native, moved to New Zealand in 2019 to live with her Kiwi partner. She first worked as a rest home caregiver and later as a support worker for people with disabilities (caring for others being a common theme and value).
Next to her work, Anna had also developed a curiosity for end-of-life and grief-related subjects dating back to her study of philosophy and psychology back home. This led to part-time work as a lifter at a local funeral home, which she found an intriguing and rewarding experience.
Her introduction to the funeral industry, combined with her previous experience of providing care to individuals and families in need, led Anna to joining Harbour City as a trainee embalmer in September 2022.
In her free time, Anna enjoys a good book (not always death-related), crocheting, and going for walks in the beautiful city she now calls home. Occasionally, you may also find her singing and playing the guitar.
Barry was born in the Hutt Valley and educated at Stokes Valley School, Taita Intermediate and Heretaunga College. He joined his father in the family funeral business in 1978. Barry qualified as an embalmer and funeral director, attaining the New Zealand Certificate in Funeral Service, then went on to pass his British exams, being admitted to the British Institute of Embalmers in 1985. Barry remained in the family business for 23 years until it was sold to an overseas corporation. After a period away from funeral directing, Barry returned to the industry in 2014, as his passion for this profession had never left him. With over 30 years experience as a funeral director, Barry loves the interaction with client families and the assistance he is able to offer them through difficult times.
Barry, and his wife, Lynn, have four children and 3 beautiful granddaughters, whom they love spending time with. In his spare time Barry loves cooking, gardening, travel and his beloved Buick Roadmaster.
email: barry@funeral-link.co.nz
Michelle’s journey to becoming a Funeral Director has been shaped by a variety of personal and professional experiences.
Starting as an apprentice hairdresser after leaving school, she dedicated 18 years to the industry, including owning and managing her own salon for 7 years.
As her young family grew, she gave up the long hours of salon life and retrained as a florist.
When her children left home, Michelle discovered her true calling in the funeral care industry while working at a local cemetery.
A deeply personal experience caring for a family member who passed away reaffirmed her passion for supporting others during such a profound time. She knew right away that Funeral Directing was where she was meant to be.
After spending 21 years on the sunny Kapiti Coast, Michelle recently moved back to Petone, where she enjoys reconnecting with friends and spending time at the beach fishing, snorkeling, and camping.
She brings a strong sense of compassion, dignity, and understanding to her work in funeral care, reflecting the many transitions and life experiences, she’s encountered along the way.
email: michelle@funeral-link.co.nz
Frank joined the funeral industry in Wellington for the first time in 2007 from having worked in pastoral work for 15 years and supporting people in the community. The industry was a natural fit for him.
He moved to Wellington after having spent time in these roles in various locations around the country including Northland, Otago, Wellington, Gisborne, and Rotorua.
Since then, Frank has had a couple of different roles within the industry, being a Funeral Director from 2007 - 2010. He then took on the role of casket trimmer and car valet part-time, while working as a mental health support worker. He now is working with the funeral home as the Crematorium Operator and Funeral Home Assistant.
Frank enjoys time with his sons and grandson; tinkering around the house, doing odd jobs (he’s quite the handyman), watching movies, going fishing, exercising and biking.
Frank has a couple of Bichon Frieze dogs whom he loves dearly, he takes immense pride in their grooming, so much so that he now has a side hustle of grooming dogs for friends’ and the wider eastern suburbs community.
Sheryl Wright (nee Wooller)
Was born in Wellington and educated at Kilbirnie School and Wellington East Girl’s College.
Sheryl has been on the fringe of the funeral industry for 51 years as her husband was previously a funeral director, they have two adult children, seven grand-children and four great grand-children.
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 28 years, Sheryl has seen the company grow, not only in professionally trained staff but also in the changes in facilities, client choices, and the bereavement support we offer to our clients.
Working throughout the different branches enables Sheryl to assist clients with on going support and assistance, which she enjoys.
Having the life experiences first-hand of being a friend, wife, mother, nana, and also having experienced first-hand the loss of those closest to her, she has a real empathy to those who she comes into contact with.
Sheryl’s personal time is spent with her family, as they conveniently live in the Wellington region.
Kima was born in Lower Hutt and attended Otonga Primary School in Maungaraki where many of his family still reside. He attended Hutt Valley High School, as did a number of his cousins and siblings, ending his time there in 1991.
Brought up in a deeply religious Pacifica household, he developed a reverence for loved ones that had passed, an empathy for those they leave behind and for the people that step up to offer support in those moments. After a combined 20 years in predominantly sales roles within IT wholesale distribution, his interest in the funeral industry landed him a role at a funeral home in 2020 which paved the way for a funeral director position with Harbour City Funeral Home.
From their home in Porirua East, Kima along with his wife of 23 years Eunice, their two adult sons and teenage daughter enjoy spending time together with their extended Tokelau and Samoa families, often over hearty meals, music and lots of laughter.
email: Kima@funeral-link.co.nz
Gemma was born in the Hutt Valley and attended Totara Park School, St. Joseph’s School for her intermediate years and then onto Upper Hutt College. Gemma had always had an interest in the funeral profession due to her strong family connection – Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father were all funeral directors before her and this ignited her passion. After studying and attaining her NZ Certificate in Sports Science and NZ Diploma in Legal Executive Studies and a stint as a professional squash coach in Guatemala, in 2017, Gemma decided the time was right to join the funeral profession as an embalmer. This was certainly all that she had hoped for and takes pride in being able to give the bereaved the opportunity of spending time and saying their farewells to their loved ones.
When Gemma is not embalming she can be found walking the many beautiful bushwalks of the area with her partner Luke and two beautiful daughters, Kora and Quinn. Or teaching a pilates class, coaching or playing squash, or putting the finishing touches to her new home.
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. Simon is a qualified embalmer and funeral director and has taken on roles to encourage and train people who like himself choose the funeral directing role to serve others.
Within the funeral world, Simon leads the New Zealand Funeral Directors response in disaster situations and in 2022 in the Platinum Jubilee Queens Birthday celebrations he was awarded a QSO to recognise this work. This specialist work has seen Simon deployed in Nauru, Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Netherlands as well as being responsible for managing the New Zealand funeral professions response to the Christchurch Earthquake, the Mosque Shootings, the Whakaari White Island Eruption. In 2020 he was recognised by NZ Defence for his work in the repatriation of 35 service personnel from 6 different countries. This remains one of Simon’s proudest achievements.
Simon is a keen Rotarian and has taken on various roles within Rotary including the role of District Governor for the Lower North Island. Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self, fits well with who Simon is.
Simon mixes his time between Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast, anyone who knows Simon, knows he loves his role as a funeral director. Making a difference and helping others is what it is all about for Simon
Harbour City Crematorium Chapel
Wellington
56 Onepu Road, Kilbirnie
Phone: 04 387 8301
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Cockburn Street Chapel
Wellington
Cnr Onepu Road & Cockburn St, Kilbirnie
Phone: 04 387 8301
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High Street Chapel
Lower Hutt
665 High Street, Lower Hutt
Phone: 04 570 0111
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Fergusson Drive Chapel
Upper Hutt
Cnr Ward Street & Fergusson Drive
Phone: 04 528 8924
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Kāpiti Road Chapel
Paraparaumu
300 Kāpiti Road, Paraparaumu
Phone: 04 298 4888
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