A Club with Heart and Purpose

Founded in Katikati, our Coffin Club brings people together to take control of one of life’s final projects — while celebrating the joy of friendship and creativity.

We provide a safe, supportive environment where members can learn, build, and laugh together. While the workshop is at the heart of what we do, the real spirit of the club lies in our members. Whether you’re sanding wood, painting, or simply sharing a story over tea, you’ll find a place here.

Our mission is simple:

• To support people in building their own coffins with dignity and pride.
• To create a space of belonging, companionship, and shared purpose.
• To encourage learning, laughter, and community spirit.

At the Katikati Coffin Club, every coffin built by our members comes with a Certificate of Compliance, ensuring it meets New Zealand cremation and burial standards.

Our certificates confirm that:

• All coffins are manufactured from non-treated plywood and timber.
• Dimensions, adhesives, fastenings, and coatings comply with cemetery requirements.
• Each build is load tested to 250kg for strength and safety.
• Materials used are fully combustible, making them suitable for cremation.

This means that when you build your own coffin with us, you can be confident it is not only personal and meaningful but also fully compliant with industry standards.

👉 Your project is backed by community support and official certification, giving you peace of mind now and reassurance for your family later.

The certificate of compliance is issued by the Katikati Coffin Club Inc. to certify at the time of building the coffin, that it complies with the standards set out to comply with current Cremation/Burial requirements.

Katikati Coffin Club coffins are manufactured using easily combustible material as per Cemetery Rules D2.1 (Ref Tauranga City Council document, TCC ref.5753343)

• Manufactured using non-treated plywood and timbers.
• Base is flat, no battens, protrusions or upstands.
• Dimensions: no greater than 900mm x 2200mm.
• Adhesives: Aqua PVA.
• Fastenings: Magnetic only (no brass, copper, or stainless steel).
• Handles: Industry-standard plastic, wood, or natural hemp rope.
• Paint & coatings: Lead-free, water-based.
• Lining: Natural combustible fibre.
• All materials fully combustible.
• Standard coffin builds load-tested to 250kg.

Disclaimer: Katikati Coffin Club Inc. accepts no responsibility for additions or alterations made after leaving the club’s site. It is the responsibility of the presenter of this coffin to the crematorium/cemetery that it still complies with requirements set out in this declaration.

At the Katikati Coffin Club, some of our coffins are designed to be flat-packed. This means they can be easily disassembled, packed, and transported to any location across New Zealand.

Whether you live outside the Bay of Plenty or simply want the convenience of building at home, our flat-pack coffins make it possible. They are:

• Lightweight & Portable – Designed for easy transport by car or courier.
• Simple to Assemble – Clear instructions make putting your coffin together straightforward.
• Fully Compliant – Even in flat-pack form, these coffins meet the same cremation and burial standards as all club builds.

This option gives you the flexibility to create something personal and meaningful — no matter where you are in the country.

👉 Ask us about availability and how you can order a flat-pack coffin for delivery anywhere in New Zealand.

At the Katikati Coffin Club, we understand that the loss of a baby is one of the hardest experiences a family can go through. As part of our commitment to supporting our community, we offer to make baby coffins at no charge.

Each baby coffin is:

• Handcrafted with care and compassion by our members.
• Built to the same standards of compliance as all our coffins.
• A gift from the heart, offered freely to families in need.
• Accompanied by a handmade teddy bear, lovingly created to bring comfort and warmth in a time of grief.

This is our way of giving back — ensuring that in moments of unimaginable loss, families feel supported, cared for, and not alone.

👉 If you or someone you know needs this support, please contact us directly. We are here to help with compassion and respect.