28/10/2026
If you've ever wished you could chat with loved ones who have died, here's a way to make it easier. One of the very special things that happened during this year's Dying Matters Week was the creation of another beautiful Wind Phone in New Zealand. If you've never heard of a wind phone, they are a simple and compassionate idea: an old-fashioned telephone placed in a peaceful location where people can pick up the receiver and let the wind carry their words and messages of love to people who have died. The first wind phone was created by Itaru Sasaki in Ōtsuchi, Japan, in 2010. Wind phones can now be found around the world, and are usually found outdoors, in peaceful spaces that support quiet reflection. Michael Neill generously designed and built the beautiful wind phone pictured, which he dedicated to his Mum. The phone was on display as part of Dying Matters Week events in Whangārei, to help introduce this special concept to the local community. Thank you for your very generous gift, Mike, and for reminding us that talking with loved ones we have lost can bring comfort and peace.
A wind phone is an unconnected telephone booth used for grief and remembrance, allowing people to have a one-way conversation with a deceased loved one. The first wind phone was created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki and has since inspired similar installations worldwide to provide a space for people ...
