Kaiora (left) and Francis Tipene have posted a message on social media, after a second arrest of a funeral director in Auckland, saying the arrest was not from their firm, but their thoughts are with those involved. Photo: Tipene Funerals
The directors at Tipene Funerals say the latest arrest of an Auckland funeral director as part of Operation Lola is "not us".
The first arrest saw former Tipene employee Fiona Bakulich plead guilty last month to mishandling human remains and obtaining by deception.
Police have now arrested a second person for mishandling burials, a man due to appear in Auckland District Court next week.
Kaiora Tipene, a director of Tipene Funerals, posted a video on social media, shown sitting next to her husband Francis, saying she felt compelled to speak out after receiving concerned messages following the news.
The pair featured in the popular reality TV show The Casketeers.
"I just want to say, it's not us, e te whānau," Kaiora said in this latest video, posted on Friday evening.
Francis Tipene said their thoughts were with the affected whānau, and he hoped they were getting support.
"We're here, we're still going strong, we have many, many families in our care that we need to take care of."
Among the comments on the video is one from Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party, saying: "Big aroha ki a koutou!!!"
Responding to RNZ's request for comment on Friday night, Kaiora Tipene directed the reporter to the video.
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