Christine Staines – John Rhind Funeral Directors

Christine Staines is John Rhind’s North Canterbury funeral director. Christine has lived in the North Canterbury area all of her life, bringing up her children in Kaiapoi. She has a number of years experience as a funeral director and has been involved with several community fundraising ventures in North Canterbury.

John Rhind Funeral Directors is just one of a few Canterbury businesses that, after more than a century, is still operating from its original location. There are new premises now, including a beautiful chapel and nearby reception rooms, but we can still be found at 15-19 London Street, Christchurch, where the firm originated in 1881. A few years ago, we opened an office in an historic building in central Kaiapoi to better serve the North Canterbury community.

Over 125 years we have grown to become one of Christchurch’s foremost funeral firms, with a reputation for professional and caring service from funeral directors and support staff who are passionate about going the extra mile to ensure families can have peace of mind at what can be a very stressful time. As members of the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) we are pledged to uphold the highest professional standards.

John Rhind’s approach is what you would expect from a funeral firm that is generations old: friendly, understanding and, above all, sincere. The services we provide demonstrate caring professionalism, and we know how to take care of the details when arranging a funeral – whether it’s being held now or being pre-arranged or pre-paid for some time in the future.

We offer a modern and comfortable chapel, with its beautiful garden and fountain beyond the altar window. Our catering lounge, serving a tempting array of savouries, sandwiches, cakes and fruit platters, is a popular venue for a get-together after the funeral.

In the weeks after the funeral is over, it can help to have someone on hand who understands what a difficult time this can be coping with grief and John Rhind Funeral Directors offers, free of charge, a bereavement support person to talk things through. We also offer a free book (or colourful poster for children) to help you understand the effects of grief.

The original John Rhind, whose name the firm bears today, joined the business in 1906, 25 years after it had been established by his partner’s brother. The firm was run as Langford and Rhind for 14 years until 1920, when Herbert Langford sold his interest to John Rhind, who then ran it on his own with assistance from his sons until his death in 1944.

John Rhind (now in his 80th year) is a third generation member of the Rhind family. After starting with the firm in 1958, he is still active as an executive consultant.

In fact, over four generations, many Rhind family members have had some involvement with the family funeral business, living next to the premises in one of the firm’s many staff houses.