Our funeral directors are dedicated in their roles. They will listen and gently guide family and friends through the legal requirements and practical details of organising a funeral.
Ettiene is a South African native who has been working in the funeral industry since 2008. He loves his job and considers it more than just a profession. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in funeral planning and management, and he has handled some of the most prominent funeral arrangements in South Africa and its neighboring countries, such as the one for Joost van der Westhuizen, a legendary rugby player with international fame. He was honored to be part of the team that gave him a dignified and memorable farewell.
Ettiene and his family of five have chosen to move to New Zealand in 2019 to pursue his career and passion as a funeral director. He believes that New Zealand offers him more opportunities and challenges to grow and learn in his field. He understands the emotional needs of the families he serves and strives to provide them with excellent and compassionate service during their time of grief. He listens to their wishes and preferences and helps them create a personalized and meaningful tribute for their loved ones.
Ettiene likes to spend his free time in Motorsport, Golf, and Rugby. He is a fan of both the Springboks and the All Blacks, and he enjoys watching their games. He also values his family time very much. He loves his wife and three children, who support him in his career and passion. His motto is “Where passion meets excellence”.
Kirsty began with Guardian Funeral Home in 1991, and after a hiatus from training and working as a primary school teacher, she is back at Guardian, working part-time on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Kirsty is a fully qualified Funeral Director and Embalmer and is Registered Funeral Director and a full member of The Embalmers Association of New Zealand.
Kirsty is married to Mark. They have two adult children, two griffon dogs, a Burmese cat and several chickens.
In her spare time, Kirsty enjoys dog walks, gardening, reading, and baking for the volunteer organisation Good Bitches Baking.
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.
Eva grew up on Auckland’s West Coast with Muriwai Beach in her backyard. She comes from a long line of nurses, so from a young age she knew she wanted to work in a role which saw her caring for people in some capacity.
Eva completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and English at Massey University and it was her desire to continue learning and helping others that got her into the funeral industry in 2014. In 2024 Eva gained a NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing.
When she’s not at work, Eva loves going on hiking adventures, paddling for Pōneke Watersports Dragon Boat Club, as well as cooking, sewing and reading. She often helps with cookathons for Bellyful Wellington South, a charity close to her heart. Through this involvement, she actively contributes to the organization's mission of nourishing and connecting communities by preparing and delivering free meals to families with babies or young children who require extra support.
Eva's journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to both personal growth and community well-being. As she continues to evolve in her roles, Eva remains dedicated to the values instilled in her by her family and upbringing—an ethos centred around compassion, learning, and the profound impact of genuine care.
Maz grew up in the colourful coastal city of Brighton in the UK. She and her partner made the move to New Zealand in 2018 with the intention of staying for just a year, but it was the pristine beaches, lush native forests, and the friendly, welcoming people that solidified their choice to stay.
Harnessing her caring and compassionate side, Maz spent many years looking after children and also as a support worker for adults with intellectual disabilities. She then spent time working as a dispatcher for a sustainable casket company. This gave her an insight to the funeral industry and sparked an interest in a career as a funeral director.
Maz currently lives in Wellington with her partner and 2 cats - Puk and Percy. Maz likes to stay active by playing roller derby, taiko drumming and attends the gym regularly. Her other hobbies include: Beach walks, video and board games, volunteering, practicing yoga and catching up with friends with a proper cup of tea.
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.
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
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 practising 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.
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 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.
