Andrew & Merryn Malcolm, owners of Kapiti Coast Funeral Home,

next month will have been on the Kapiti Coast for 32 years. Purchasing Collins Opie Funerals on 19 May 1992. Despite many changes over the years they are still actively involved, though they have more staff now to help serve the community in which they work.

Back in 1992, aged 26 and 27 respectively, it was a huge gamble to purchase a small Funeral Business in Kapiti. Merryn, busy with a 4 year old and a 6 month old , and Andrew, 2 years from graduating ‘Top Funeral Directing Student’ in New Zealand had been approached to take over as National Funeral Services Tutor. The lure of doing things ‘His way’ was a strong pull to purchase the small barely sustainable business, so Andrew took them both on. So at 5pm on 19 May 1992, Andrew & Merryn signed away to begin a busy life in business while also signing documents to run the then mostly extramural Funeral Directing Cer tificate course attending to teach two 6 week block courses, with a locum for cover. The tutoring pay meant they didn’t need to draw a salary for most of the 1st year and kept their financial head above water. Over the 32 years that followed they built strong teams as staff that came and went, but most stayed as long-time employees. Funeral numbers increased, technology changed, and additional services and businesses were added such as Kapiti Katering; and Kapiti Memorials Services; It was Merryn who took over the running of these, the catering company and Memorials, including the role of a monumental mason, at the same time providing Bereavement Suppor t, all, while raising the children.