While The Front Page is on summer break, we’re taking a look back at some of the biggest news stories and top-rated episodes from the podcast in 2024.   

This year, Tipene Funerals, best known for the television show 'The Casketeers', came under fire because one of its funeral directors allegedly swindled her grieving clients and put their dead relatives in plastic rubbish bags instead of the coffins they had paid for.  

It was only revealed when bodies in a public mausoleum were disinterred after Cyclone Gabrielle. 

Since then, Police revealed the scale of their investigation into former undertaker Fiona Bakulich, telling the Herald there are 10 bodies involved.  

She’s since appeared in court, facing a charge of misconduct in respect of human remains and nine of obtaining by deception. 

In August, we spoke to Herald journalist Raphael Franks – who began the investigation into this case.  

We also touched base with Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes about stats showing that burial and cremation costs to councils rose 50 percent in a year. 

New episodes return January 13th. 

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Audio Engineers: Paddy Fox, Richard Martin
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

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