Former undertaker released after successful appeal of prison sentence

Friday 10 October 2025 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated Fri 10 Oct 2025, 10:06am

In this story Tipene Funerals

Fiona Bakulich, a former Tipene Funerals employee, has been released following an Auckland High Court appeal. A judge ruled her previous sentence was manifestly excessive, replacing it with four months of home detention. This follows six months she had already spent in prison for stealing money from the relatives of deceased persons.

How they headlined it

10:02am

1. NZ HeraldFri 10 Oct 2025, 10:02am

   Reality TV funeral director Fiona Bakulich released from prison after winning sentence reduction on Auckland High Court appeal (opens in new tab)

2. StuffFri 10 Oct 2025, 10:06am

   Former Tipene Funerals undertaker’s sentence was ‘manifestly excessive’ (opens in new tab)