'Francis Tipene (Te Rarawa) and wife Kaiora are the proprietors of Tipene Funerals, a New Zealand funeral business based i South Auckland. Francis hails from Pawarenga, Northland and met Kaiora at Māori Teacher's Training College before embarking on a life devoted to their passion for helping people at times of great need. Francis and Kaiora star in the local reality series, The Casketeers, which follows the daily workings of their funeral parlours.'
Biographical sources
- Ngā Kupu Wero. Ed Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand: Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2023. 360.
Other
- Life as a Casketeer. Francis and Kaiora Tipene. Auckland, N.Z.: Harper Collins Publishers, 2020.
- Tikanga. Francis & Kaiora Tipene. Auckland, N.Z.: Harper Collins, 2021. Excerpt rpt in Ngā Kupu Wero. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand: Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2023. 295