Osbornes Funeral Directors Rotorua

01/04/2026

“Funeral directors are not judges of family hierarchy, and they cannot resolve decades of family tension.”

This article offers an important perspective on the challenges that can arise when grief, family dynamics, and legal responsibilities intersect.

At Osbornes, we know every family situation is different. In times of loss, we are here to provide calm, compassionate guidance and professional support every step of the way.

We encourage you to have a read: https://funeraldirectors.co.nz/news-and-events/news-and-advocacy/funeral-directors-are-being-blamed-for-family-disputes-they-didnt-create/

30/03/2026

Jurd, Joseph Richard

Joe passed away on Sunday 29 March in his 84 year.
Loved Partner of Karen, fun uncle of all his nieces and nephews.
A thank you to the caring staff at Bupa Redwoods.

The funeral service for Joe will be held at the Rotorua Methodist Church, 187 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua, on Wednesday 8 April at 1:30pm, followed by private cremation.

For tribute details www.osbornes.co.nz/tribute

28/03/2026

GOODWIN, Neil Kenneth (Joe)

Unexpectedly left this life on Friday 27th March 2026.
We are thankful for every moment shared and all the special memories made over the years. His caring influence on our lives will last forever.

Loved and treasured by Phyl (Phyllis Clutterbuck), Letitia and Scott, Ross and Becky and his five cherished grandchildren, Kobe and Cole, Lotte, Belle and Jute.

A celebration and reflection of Neil’s life will be held at 1pm on Wednesday 1st April at Osbornes Funeral Directors Chapel, 197 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua.

Neil will be deeply missed by all his extended family and friends and will be at home until his service.

In lieu of flowers donations to Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter will be welcome.
https://www.chopperappeal.co.nz/donate-now/

Condolences to P.O. Box 213, Ngongotaha 3041

For tribute and livestream www.osbornes.co.nz/tribute

26/03/2026

For 45 years, Osbornes Funeral Directors has had the privilege of serving the Rotorua community.

Over the years, much has changed. Funeral homes are changing hands, rebranding, or moving on.

Through it all, we have remained steady, trusted, and here for Rotorua.

Since opening in February 1981, we have remained committed to the same community, from the same location, with the same focus: genuine care, compassion, and support for the families we serve.

When families make arrangements, it is not only about today. It is about knowing who will be here when the time comes.

There is comfort in choosing a funeral director with a long-standing history of caring for local families, and the confidence of knowing Osbornes will continue to be here for generations to come.

We may not be the newest, but when it matters most, we are here, everyday.

Just as we have been for the last 45 years. 💛

📷 The original house that Osbornes Funeral Home operated from in 1981, 197 Old Taupo Road in Rotorua.

25/03/2026

Memorial Night at The ToolShed Paradise Valley Speedway is on this weekend!

Osbornes Funeral Directors is honoured to support this event, which gives the Rotorua community a chance to come together, remember loved ones, and enjoy a great night of racing.

If you are looking for something to do, come along and support the drivers and the Rotorua Speedway Club. It is always a great atmosphere and a special evening for many families.

We hope to see you there on Saturday, racing starts from 7pm.

Rotorua Stockcar Club Inc.

20/03/2026

Osbornes Funeral Directors is proud to sponsor the upcoming Memorial Night at The ToolShed Paradise Valley Speedway.

Memorial Night is always a special event on the Rotorua Speedway calendar. It is a time for the community to come together, remember loved ones, and share an evening that celebrates connection, memories, and the spirit of our community.

Driver entries are now open, so if you are planning to race be sure to register through the Speedway Club website.
👉 https://www.rotoruaspeedway.co.nz/Online-Forms/Online-Forms

We look forward to seeing the Rotorua community come together for this meaningful night. Be sure to save the date, Saturday 28th March.

The next meeting at The ToolShed Paradise Valley Speedway is Osbornes Funeral Directors Rotorua Memorial Night, entries are coming in, if you haven't entered yet, do so here:

👉 https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/501562

💥𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝟮𝟴-𝟬𝟯-𝟮𝟲💥

👉 What's On!
𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 "𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺" 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭
𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱 – 𝘛𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘢
𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱 - 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱 - 𝘒𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘶 𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘵𝘥
𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 (𝘝𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘱) - 𝘎 & 𝘛 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘵𝘥
𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘴, 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 (𝘙𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺) - 𝘎 & 𝘛 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘵𝘥

🎥 The Broadcast Co - Motorsport will be livestreaming the night's racing action.
🚐 Camping, Is available at the track for self contained vehicles only, 𝐍𝐎 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒. Awnings must be down at night as the are is for parking, first and foremost. No need to book, you will be directed upon arrival. $20 per vehicle per night.
⛅️ Weather, If anything changes in regards to weather it will be posted on Facebook & our website. If nothing has been posted, the event is still proceeding as planned.
♿ Disabled Car Parking is on the grass at the main gate. Reserved disability seating area available on Turn 1 and 2 Concrete behind blue seats.
🍔 Food | drink vans onsite, you may bring in your own food & drink, but 𝐍𝐎 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬.
🚧 The pits are closed while racing is on, you are welcome to go in the pits before or after the meeting.

🏁 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈:
Superstock - Points
Stockcar - Points
Streetstocks - Points
Six Shooter - Points
Ministocks All (Via Rotorua Rep)

👉 Saturday 28th March:
🎟️Adults: $25.00
🎟️Child: $20.00
🎟️Student with ID: $20.00
🎟️Senior with Gold Card: $20.00
🎟️Family: $55.00

𝐸𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝐷𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑠 - 𝐴 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 16 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠.
𝐴 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝐴𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛 5 - 16 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 5'𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒.

🕓 𝗣𝗶𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀: 4.00PM
🕓 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻: 5:00PM
🕕 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀: 6:30PM (Ministocks)

👉 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 & 𝘗𝘪𝘵 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 TBA

18/03/2026

Simon Inosi Vari

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Simon Inosi Vari on Saturday the 14th of March 2026 on Mount Tawhiuau in Murupara.

He was a beloved husband to Vickie, father to Jackson and Sydney, brother, uncle, friend and Doctor of many.

Simon will be deeply missed by all.

A funeral service to honour Simons life will be held at Under the Sails, in the Redwoods, on Longmile Road, this Friday the 20th March at 10:30am followed by burial in Murupara Cemetery.

The family have asked for no flowers to be sent, honouring Simon's wish for flowers to be left in the ground.

Alternatively you may make a donation to any charity in his name.

If you wish to send a koha to the family, then please send to the account listed below.

38-9003-0164298-06

Name: Simon Vari

17/03/2026

When you can’t be there in person, you can still be present.
Osbornes offers funeral livestreaming and online tributes, helping whānau and friends feel connected wherever they are in the world. You can search by name, view service details, read messages, or leave a tribute of your own.
Find out more here: https://osbornes.co.nz/tributes/

09/03/2026

At Osbornes Funeral Directors, we help you set out your wishes in advance so your family doesn’t have to second-guess what you would have wanted. It’s one of those small, practical steps that can make a world of difference later on, and it doesn't cost a thing.

We’ll guide you through the options gently and clearly, whether you’d rather meet with us at Osbornes or have us visit you at home. And if you’d prefer to reflect on things in your own time first, that’s absolutely fine too. We can give you a free pre-planning form to look over and complete whenever it feels right.

Sometimes it starts with nothing more than a cup of tea and a quiet conversation. No pressure. No rush. Just time to think and talk things through at your own pace.

It’s your plan. Your choices. We’re simply here to help you put them into words. Contact us on (07) 348 3600 or visit our website to learn more: https://osbornes.co.nz/service/funeral-preplanning/

07/03/2026

Warren Alfred Monk

Passed away peacefully on the 6th of March 2026, age 75 years, in Rotorua, with family by his side.

Wonderful and much loved husband of Janet, for the past 55 years. Treasured Dad of Katrina and Kylie, and their husbands Nigel and Simon. Adored Grandad of Katelyn, Sophie, Archie and Ava.

The family would like to thank the staff at Redwood “Awhina Mai”, for their dedication and outstanding care of Warren.

We invite you to join us to celebrate Warren’s life at 11am on Wednesday the 11th of March in Osbornes Funeral Directors Chapel, 197 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua.

For livestream and to leave a tribute go to
osbornes.co.nz/tribute

04/03/2026

Russell Ernest Tibby

Suddenly Russell rode off peacefully into his dreams early Monday morning. Dearly loved husband of Kay and father and father in law of Beth, Kim and Aaron, Grandfather of Ivy and Mea.

At Russell's request a private cremation has been held.

03/03/2026

Toby James Laidlow

Toby died suddenly doing what he loved -aged 28.
Cherished partner of Hannah.
Adored son of David and Kate and brother of Emma.
Grandson of Nan, Geoff, Jennie and Arthur.
And dearly loved by so so many more.

A service to celebrate Toby’s life will be held on
Sunday 8th March, 2pm at Lakeview Golf course,
704 State Highway 5, Rotorua.
For tribute and livestream details www.osbornes.co.nz/tribute