Te Awahou comes to Ōtaki

Te Awahou comes to Ōtaki

Ōtaki’s highway shopping precinct has a new face in the community, as Foxton-based funeral directors Te Awahou expand their reach.

Leading the new office is Andrae Peipi, a veteran of the funeral profession with more than three decades of experience and a deep-seated commitment to personal, culture-led service.

Founded in 2017 by Jayden Moore and joined in 2023 by Marina Bates, Te Awahou has built a reputation for moving away from the “cookie-cutter” approach to funerals.

Andrae, a fully qualified funeral director, embalmer, and Justice of the Peace, says the decision to open an Ōtaki branch was a response to direct requests from local families seeking a more approachable, locally based alternative.

For Andrae, who has worked in New Plymouth, Wellington, and Palmerston North, the industry has shifted significantly from the rigid traditions of the past.

“Traditionally, funerals were very much what I call cookie-cutter services,” Andrae says. “Now, it’s far more personal. It’s about tailoring the farewell around each individual family.

“It might be placing a rugby ball on a casket instead of flowers – those distinct changes make a farewell more meaningful.”

With a background in te ao Māori, Andrae brings a unique perspective to a town where nearly 40 percent of the population identifies as Māori. However, his expertise spans a wide cultural spectrum, including experience with Greek Orthodox, Jewish, and Muslim traditions.

“I come as I am, regardless of my background,” he says. “I see a family as a blank canvas.

“It’s my responsibility to listen and build an idea of where they are coming from. This profession requires you to truly hear people; if you haven’t listened, your suggestions come across as cold.”

As a family-owned business, Te Awahou prides itself on being independent of large corporate conglomerates. Andrae says this allows the team to prioritize empathy over transactions or shareholder needs.

The new Ōtaki office operates with flexible hours to accommodate the unpredictable nature of grief. While Andrae is a frequent fixture at the new offices between Dice and Coin Save, he encourages residents to call ahead or simply drop in if they see the lights on.

“We want people to feel they’re in control and at ease. It’s about meeting needs, not sales,” Andrae says. “At the end of the day, it’s about providing a space where families feel comfortable saying goodbye in their own way.”

Te Awahou Funeral Services, 200 Ōld Main Highway Ōtaki. 06 363 7404 teawahoufunerals.co.nz