The former was up for discussion in the most unlikely of places yesterday - a cafe.
About a dozen people gathered at the Esplanade Restaurant for what is believed to be Dunedin's first "Death Cafe", where people meet to drink tea, eat cake and discuss death.
Event organiser Shirley Welsh said the first Death Cafe was founded by the late Jon Underwood in the United Kingdom in 2011, and Death Cafes had since spread around the globe, giving people an opportunity to increase their awareness of death and help them make the most of their lives.
"Death Cafe offers space for an open, respectful, confidential, facilitated conversation, where people can express their views safely," Ms Welsh said.
"Death Cafe is neither grief support, counselling, nor an information session.
"There is no agenda and the topics for discussion are determined by those who come along.
"There is no intention to lead anyone to a specific conclusion, product or course of action.
"We meet simply as people who are all going to die."
Ms Welsh said she was inspired to introduce a Death Cafe to Dunedin after attending one in Christchurch.
"For many, many years, I've been very interested in end-of-life issues, and I found it such an amazing forum where you could speak openly with others."
The Dunedin lawyer said she spent many years as a judicial officer, a Disputes Tribunal referee and a Tenancy Tribunal adjudicator.
But her interest in death recently prompted her to get involved in elder law.
"It's called elder law because it is usually elderly people who have death and end-of-life issues."
Dunedin Death Cafe would meet regularly and the next cafe would be held on August 27.
