Return to Sender Caskets

Return to Sender Caskets Our designs are environmentally considered at every stage. This includes materials, fixings, handles, and finishes.

Thoughtfully designed and made in Aotearoa New Zealand 🌿 Contemporary and traditional caskets and urns, crafted with integrity, for families who want a beautiful farewell that doesn't cost the earth. Return to Sender offers a wide range of hand-finished caskets made from untreated and sustainable wood, including options crafted from beautiful native timbers of Aotearoa New Zealand. If there is a b

etter way to do things, chances are we are already doing it. Built to meet the highest performance standards, our caskets are crafted with care using innovative construction techniques. Our diverse collection of traditional and contemporary designs caters for a wide range of budgets and are available through Funeral Directors throughout the North Island. As a lasting symbol of life and renewal, we donate one native tree for every casket bearing the Trees for Survival logo.

03/09/2026

We treat every step of making an Archetype Casket like it matters, because it does.

Just like in this video, we sand and check the rail handle by feel to make sure it's easy on the hands to hold. We do this because we understand that the same handrail will be used to carry someone they loved and that's important to us.

All Return To Sender Caskets are Made in Aotearoa, NZ, with love 💚

01/09/2026

Traditional Flat Lid or Raised Lid?

Our Rosewood Kōwhai is available with either a flat lid or a raised lid, the choice is entirely personal preference.

The flat lid offers simplicity, while the raised lid brings a fuller profile shape.

Both share a subtle groove around the base and rich rosewood water-based satin finish, so whichever you choose, the warmth and detail stay the same.

Handles, thumbscrews and nameplate remain optional on both, so families can add the level of traditional detailing that feels right for them.

Flat or raised, it's about what feels right for your loved one.

Proudly made by Return to Sender in Aotearoa, NZ.

Behind every Plain Artisan Casket, there's a story that starts well before the workshop.Dave and Myron travel out to our...
27/08/2026

Behind every Plain Artisan Casket, there's a story that starts well before the workshop.

Dave and Myron travel out to our supplier and take their time selecting the best plywood by hand, sheet by sheet. They know what this piece will come to represent, so the choice isn't rushed.

They're looking for natural character in the grain, the kind of beauty that deserves to be seen.

Once a sheet is chosen, it's Dave who takes it further. He hand-applies an oil-based stain, working with the grain rather than against it, aware that this casket will one day hold someone's loved one.

That understanding shapes every decision along the way, from the plywood selected to the hands that finish it.

This is what craftsmanship looks like when it's guided by purpose, not just skill.

Proudly made in Aotearoa by Return To Sender Caskets.

Every Artisan Casket passes through careful hands before it's ready. Here's a glimpse of that process. Dave, one of our ...
13/08/2026

Every Artisan Casket passes through careful hands before it's ready. Here's a glimpse of that process. Dave, one of our craftsmen at Return To Sender, known for his attention to detail and precision, working on the Artisan Nīkau Casket.

Symbol of Resilience.The Nīkau is New Zealand's only native palm and the southernmost palm species found anywhere in the...
10/08/2026

Symbol of Resilience.

The Nīkau is New Zealand's only native palm and the southernmost palm species found anywhere in the world. Thriving where no other palm can, it has long been seen as a symbol of resilience and adaptation, bending in the wind but holding its ground.

On our Artisan Nīkau Casket, a line of Nīkau stands silhouetted against a coastal dusk, their leaves caught mid-sway. It's everything the Nīkau represents that shaped the design.

The Artisan Casket, the unique design that started Return To Sender, includes a one-piece lid, low sides for closer viewings, a wool fleece interior, minimal material use and a contribution to our Trees for Survival Program with every sale.

A matching Artisan Urn is also available in Nīkau.

For sizing, other designs such as Silverfern or Rangitoto or an Artisan personalised casket, reach out, we're happy to help.

Proudly made in Aotearoa by Return To Sender Caskets.

Last week, Nikki, the founder of WomenzShed , came by to collect some plywood offcuts for their woodworking workshops a...
09/08/2026

Last week, Nikki, the founder of WomenzShed , came by to collect some plywood offcuts for their woodworking workshops and we couldn't be happier to help.

WomenzShed runs workshops that teach women new skills with tools and machinery, in a welcoming environment where anyone, from total beginners to those thinking about a career in the trades, can learn, build and grow in confidence.

Instead of these offcuts going to waste, they're heading off to help empower a whole community of women. We think that is pretty awesome!

Thanks Nikki and the WomenzShed team for the work you do!

If you're keen to learn woodworking or DIY skills in a supportive space, check them out: https://womenzshed.org

📸 Nikki and our manager Sue loading up the plywood today.

07/08/2026

A Path Lit by Moonlight.

The Silver Fern (Ponga) carries deep meaning for New Zealanders. It is a symbol of mana, of resilience and of belonging, especially for those far from home.

Traditionally, Māori used the fern's silver underside to guide the way through the forest at night, catching moonlight to mark a path. It felt fitting to carry that same idea of guidance into this design.

On our Artisan Silverfern Casket, a silver fern leaf runs across the surface, set against a deep black finish. The same symbol recognised and worn on the jerseys of many New Zealand sports teams.

A matching Artisan Urn is also available in Silverfern.

The Artisan Casket, our unique design that started Return To Sender, includes a one-piece lid, low sides for closer viewings, a wool fleece interior, minimal material use and a contribution to our Trees for Survival Program with every sale.

For sizing, other designs such as Plain, Vineyard or an Artisan personalised casket, reach out, we're happy to help.

Proudly made in Aotearoa, New Zealand by Return To Sender Caskets.

06/08/2026

A Sign You're Home.

Driving through New Zealand, these are the views that tell you where you are. Rows of vines stretching toward the hills, the kind of scene you pass on a holiday drive and know, without needing a sign, that you're home.

The design is our Artisan Vineyard, vine rows leading the eye toward distant hills under an open sky, a landscape many will recognise from their own travels through the country.

The Artisan Casket, our unique design that started Return To Sender, includes a one-piece lid, low sides for closer viewings, a wool fleece interior, minimal material use and a contribution to our Trees for Survival Program with every sale.

For sizing, other designs such as Silverfern, Rangitoto or Nīkau or an Artisan personalised casket, reach out, we're happy to help.

Proudly made in Aotearoa by Return To Sender Caskets.

The Artisan Casket.Some families want their loved one's final vessel to feel as considered as the life it honours. That ...
04/08/2026

The Artisan Casket.

Some families want their loved one's final vessel to feel as considered as the life it honours. That was the idea behind the Artisan, our first casket at Return To Sender.

It helped shape the beliefs and values we still build on today, in the craftsmanship and materials we choose.

A few features worth knowing:

🟢Lid - A one-piece arched lid that lifts away completely.

🟢Sides - Low sides allow family members to sit beside their loved one during a viewing, rather than standing over the casket.

🟢Materials - Built with minimal material, keeping environmental impact to a minimum.

🟢Interior - Fitted with a wool fleece mattress and pillow.

🟢Matching urn - Matching Artisan Urn in the same design.

🟢Beyond the casket - Every Artisan sold contributes to our Trees for Survival Program.

Shown here in Plain, with the natural grain left to speak for itself. Over the coming weeks, we'll share the other design finishes the Artisan is available in.

For sizing, other designs such as Silverfern and Vineyard or an Artisan personalised casket, reach out, we're happy to help.

Proudly made in Aotearoa by Return To Sender Caskets.

Had to test out the orange and date scones recipe (with jam and cream of course!) from Anna Marie Wainwright at work fo...
30/07/2026

Had to test out the orange and date scones recipe (with jam and cream of course!) from Anna Marie Wainwright at work for FriYAY morning tea and it was a hit! 😋

Thanks Anna Marie Wainwright 💯

Address

11 Mountjoy Place, Onehunga
Auckland

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

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