NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing helps graduate

Jonathon Greenwell finds the New Zealand Diploma in Funeral Directing programme relevant to his job, adding to the on-the-job experience he has gained as a funeral director over the last 15 years.

NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing helps graduate  

Open Polytechnic is the only provider of the New Zealand Diploma in Funeral Directing (Level 5).

While it isn’t compulsory to complete the programme to work as a funeral director, Jonathon found it practical in his job and provides him with the opportunity for career progression in the future. 

“It helped me gain a deeper understanding of the funeral directing industry I'm in, while working out the ‘why’ we do a lot of what we do,” Jonathon says.

“It has given me the confidence to say to families ‘I know what I'm doing’ and they can trust me.”

Jonathon enjoyed the networking opportunities presented through the NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing (Level 5).

This included meeting other funeral directors from around the country at the meet ups in Wellington and getting his practising certificate through the Funeral Directors Association of NZ professional body.

According to Jonathon, the aspect of the programme that focusses on coordinating funeral activities within the legal and ethical requirements of funeral directing was particularly valuable.

“The most practical topic would have been the legal course, which was really informative and gave a deeper understanding of why we do what we do,” Jonathon says. 

“The Grief Process and Funeral Directing course was really helpful in understanding why and how people react to grief in such different ways, it was really fascinating.” 

Open Polytechnic’s online flexible learning 

Being able to study online with Open Polytechnic from a provincial city like Whanganui, without travelling to the main centres, made it easier for Jonathon to complete the NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing (Level 5).

It also made it “ideal” for him to balance his studies around existing work and life commitments. 

Jonathon is heavily involved with the Brass Whanganui band, which includes playing the trombone, being Drum Major and occasionally conducting or being the Master of Ceremonies (MC).

On top of that, he is also a funeral and marriage celebrant.

Learning with Open Polytechnic 

Jonathon found the course materials, including case studies and details about ethical and legal frameworks were “really informative and relevant to what we were doing.”

“Everything was easy to understand, and resources could be found easily when needed,” Jonathon says. 

If you are a funeral director thinking about studying with Open Polytechnic, Jonathon says “do it!” 

“You can do it in your own time and with great support from your employer and family,” Jonathon says. 

“Any funeral director in the country can achieve this qualification.” 

From army musician to funeral director 

Jonathon hasn’t always been a funeral director.

A love of “anything ceremonial” led Jonathon to go from being a trombone player in the New Zealand Army Band to becoming a funeral director.

Straight out of high school, he joined the New Zealand Army Band, based at the Burnham Army Camp in Christchurch, before looking for a career change.

Jonathon had always been interested in performing at ceremonies, he was an altar boy and in a brass band growing up, so ceremonial duties was always his thing.

“Funeral directing wasn't a career I had considered as a teenager, but people suggested it to me as they thought I would be good at it,” he says. 

So, after four years in the army as a musician, Jonathon started a career in funeral directing. 

Firstly, he gained some work experience in Christchurch, before getting a job as a funeral director back in his home town of Whanganui.

He has been a funeral director for Cleveland Funeral Home since 2010.