What can a funeral director do to help me set up a funeral?
How do I register a death?
What might I have to think about when planning a funeral for a loved one?
What are some of the normal costs of a funeral?
What are some less expensive options for a funeral?
What are the legal requirements for a burial or cremation?
What is a funeral celebrant?
Can I plan and pay for my funeral in advance, so my family doesn’t worry about it when the time comes?
What payment arrangements can I make when paying for a funeral?
My husband didn’t leave any money for a proper funeral. What can I do?
What sort of financial assistance is available after the death of a loved one?
Who can request a death certificate?
Where is the death registered if someone dies overseas?
I’m going to a Tangi for a friend of mine who died. What are some of the customs?
Can someone get out of jail to attend a funeral?
What can a funeral director do to help me set up a funeral?
A funeral director can guide you through the decisions you will have to make about the funeral and other issues related to the death. The usual services a funeral director offers are:
- Transport of the body
- Registering the death
- Meeting the legal requirements for burial or cremation (including bookings for a cemetery or crematorium, and filing the necessary forms for cremation)
- The embalming, care and presentation of the deceased’s body
- Placement of death notices and/or funeral notices in the paper
- The funeral service
- Recommending and arranging the minister or celebrant and the organist
- Flowers
- Catering facilities for after the funeral
- Support services for bereaved families and friends
- Applications to government agencies for funeral grants
You can choose what you want to do yourself and what you want the funeral director to do. They may charge a flat fee per funeral, or a fee only for what they do. It’s good to check what you are paying for first. The average cost for a funeral is around $8,800.
You can choose to perform some of the tasks yourself, or ask the funeral director to do everything. They may charge a flat fee per funeral, or a fee only for what they do. It’s good to check what you are paying for first, by getting an itemised quote. The average cost for a funeral is around $8,000 - $10,000.
You can choose a funeral director who belongs to the Funeral Directors’ Association of New Zealand (FDANZ). The directors in the association are required to hold a qualification, and have a code of conduct they must follow. Complaints about the behaviour of, or service provided by, an FDANZ funeral director can be made to
Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand
PO Box 10-888
The Terrace
Wellington
Phone: (04) 473 7475
More information about the complaints process is on their website.
How do I register a death?
Legally, you must register a death with the Department of Internal Affairs Births, Deaths and Marriages Office within three days of the body being buried or cremated. Often the funeral director will do this for you, but it can be done by anyone who is responsible for the burial or cremation.
To register a death, you need to fill out a Notification of Death for Registration (BDM28). If you contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office they will send you a copy of the form.
The Department of Internal Affairs supplies a brochure on what to do before burial and cremation, and more details on what you need to do to register a death. To find out more, see their webpage.
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What might I have to think about when planning a funeral for a loved one?
There are some basic steps you can take to arrange a funeral. If it’s not too late, it is a good idea to discuss it with them beforehand and make a list, so that you are clear about what they want. This structure can help you focus and share responsibilities, as it can be hard to manage things yourself while grieving.
It’s useful to have a funeral plan while you are still in good health, in case death happens unexpectedly. The funeral plan might include the following:
- Whether they want to be buried or cremated
- Where to hold the service
- What will happen at the service, e.g.. who will speak, symbols of the person’s life, performances, etc
- Who they would like as the celebrant or spiritual leader for the ceremony
- Which friends and family to ask, for mementos and photos
- Taking photos that best represent the person so that the funeral home can prepare the body in the right way
At the bare minimum, their death will need to be registered, and it will need to be decided whether they are buried or cremated. Anyone can organise a funeral – you don’t have to have a funeral director.
What are some of the normal costs of a funeral?
Funerals can be expensive. Even the cost of a burial plot or cremation can be high. Some of the normal costs associated with a funeral are:
- The burial plot or cremation fees
- The coffin or urn
- Transporting the body, including hearse fees
- Venue fees for the church or funeral home
- Paying the celebrant or minister
- Catering for the reception afterwards
- Presentations e.g. audio-visual gear for videos, slide shows or audio presentations
- Newspaper notices to inform friends and interested people
- Printing costs for service programmes
- Death certificate
- Flowers
If you are using a funeral director, what they charge will depend on the services you ask them to perform. They can do as little or as much as you want them to, within the terms of their code of conduct.
The funeral director's fee (called a professional service fee) can include:
- Taking instructions from the family
- Transporting the deceased
- Preparing, and embalming the deceased
- A coffin or urn
- Arranging the service
- Printing the service sheets
- Liaising with the minister or celebrant and florist
- Organising newspaper notices
- Liaising with the council regarding a burial plot
- Liaising with a crematorium
- Providing authorities with the death certificate and burial/cremation information
- Funeral home premises, vehicles, and 24 hour availability
What are some less expensive options for a funeral?
- If you want a funeral director to organise the funeral:
- Call around and get some quotes - preferably itemised so you know what you would be paying for.
- Discuss the options for your budget, with the funeral director, and be clear about your financial limits.
- Caskets:
- The cheapest casket is made of plain, untreated pine or plywood. A cardboard casket is cheaper still, but may be harder to source.
- A casket is not mandatory; the body may be wrapped in a shroud instead
- You can ask that the body is not to be embalmed (if burial or cremation will not be within two to three days, you can ask for body to be packed in ice or refrigerated until ready)
- Funeral service
- Use flowers from your garden or ask people to bring flowers
- Ask people to bring a plate
- Organise the catering yourself
- Transport the body in your own vehicle
- Omit the recording of the funeral, or ask a family member or friend to do it
- You can choose not to have a funeral service, or to conduct one yourself e.g. in your home
- Burial or cremation?
- It costs more to buy a burial plot near a large city than in a rural area
- Cremations are less expensive than burials because you don’t have to worry about the cost of a burial plot
- You don’t have to go through a funeral home if your loved one is to be cremated – you can go directly to a council crematorium.
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What are the legal requirements for a burial or cremation?
The main legal requirements are that a doctor’s certificate or coroner’s order has been issued before burial or cremation, and that the death is registered with the Department of Internal Affairs within three days after the body is buried or cremated. To find out more about registering a death, see How do I register a death? above.
For cremation, you will need a cremation certificate from a doctor and to file this with the cremation authority before the body can be cremated. A cremation authority is someone who has permission from the local council to perform cremations.
You’ll also need to get permission from your local council to conduct a burial or cremation, as look after the public burial and cremation facilities.
What is a funeral celebrant?
A funeral celebrant is a person who leads the funeral ceremony, and is an alternative to a minister or spiritual leader. To find a funeral celebrant, search the Celebrant Association of New Zealand's celebrant database.
What payment arrangements can I make when paying for a funeral?
Funerals can be paid in full or in part by:
- The estate of the deceased
- An insurance policy, for instance life insurance or funeral insurance
- The person organising and authorising the funeral
- ACC – if the death resulted from an accident, you may be able to get an ACC funeral grant
- A family trust or foundation
- If your are eligible, you could apply for a grant towards the cost of the funeral, from Work and Income New Zealand or from the Veterans’ Association
You can also arrange payment before the funeral. This is done when people want to pre-arrange what they would like to happen at the funeral and save grieving relatives any worry about the cost. For more information on pre-paid funerals, see the next question.
Can I plan and pay for my funeral in advance, so my family doesn’t worry about it when the time comes?
Planning and paying for your funeral in advance can give you peace of mind, knowing that your family won’t have to worry about it when the time comes.
It is also worth considering if you think you may need long term residential care in the future. This is because if you need to apply for the means-tested Residential Care Subsidy, up to $10,000 value of a prepaid funeral is exempted from the asset assessment.
You can save up for your funeral just by starting up a savings account at your bank. Or you can consider funeral insurance, a funeral trust, or a prepayment plan with a funeral director.
Funeral Insurance
This is a type of life insurance; if you already have life insurance, it may be enough to meet your funeral costs.
The conditions of a funeral insurance policy will vary depending on the provider, so be sure to ask about things like:
- How much cover you can get?
- What will happen to the policy if you miss a payment?
- Under what conditions will you be able to cancel your policy? What fees would apply, and what will happen to your payments?
- Is there a stand down period i.e. during which you can’t make a claim e.g. for pre-existing medical conditions?
- Can the value of the policy be adjusted according to inflation i.e. to keep up with the rising cost of a funeral?
- What will happen if, when you die, the value of your policy is not enough to cover the cost of the funeral?
- What happens to the excess money if you end up paying more than the amount of the insurance cover?
- Will your payments be held in a trust, or by an insurance company (if it’s held in a trust then your money is more secure if the insurance company goes under)?
- What proportion of your payments will go towards the funeral costs, as opposed to administration fees?
Funeral Trusts
If you start up a funeral trust, you make payments into the trust whenever you want to, and the money (plus any interest earned) is made available on your death. There may be a minimum amount you have to pay at the beginning. You’ll probably also be charged an establishment fee plus annual management fees, but this will vary depending on the provider.
Prepayment plan with a funeral director
The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand has a prepayment plan, as do some individual funeral directors. Depending on the scheme, you‘ll either have to pay a lump sum in advance or be able to pay instalments over a period of time. There will probably be a start-up fee, as well as annual administration fees.
If you are thinking of starting up a funeral trust or a prepayment plan with a funeral directory, ask them:
- Is there a minimum amount you have to pay?
- What start-up and management fees will you have to pay?
- Does the scheme account for increasing funeral costs due to inflation? What happens to the excess money if the amount is more than the amount of the funeral costs?
- Under what circumstances can you withdraw money from the trust? What fees will you be charged if you do?
Funeral insurance, funeral trusts and prepayment plans generally come with various fees and restrictions, so it’s worth seeking independent financial advice if you are thinking about doing this.
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My husband didn’t leave any money for a proper funeral. What can I do?
If you or your family do not have enough money to cover the funeral expenses, you could apply for funeral grant of up to around $2000 from Work and Income (WINZ). It is not intended to cover the full cost of a funeral, and it is means tested (the assessment is made on the assets of the deceased, and the income and assets of the family if the funeral is being arranged by a family member).
If you need help applying for a Work and Income funeral grant, you can ask your local Citizens Advice Bureau for assistance.
To qualify for a funeral grant you must be the partner or child of the person who has died, their parent or guardian, or responsible for arranging the funeral of a person who has no surviving spouse, partner or children.
You may be able to claim for the cost of:
- Preparing the body for cremation or burial (for example, embalming)
- The casket
- Newspaper notice
- The hearse
- Purchase of a burial plot
- Cremation
These expenses are included because they are counted as ‘direct requirements’ of a funeral. Some costs are not considered direct requirements, and so will not be paid off by a funeral grant. Things that aren’t covered include:
- Flowers
- Donations to clergy or musicians
- Chapel fees
- Car hire
- Death certificates
For more information, see the WINZ funeral grant webpage. Aside from the WINZ funeral grant, there are several sorts of financial assistance available depending on how the person died and the needs of the family.
For the funeral of someone who has died as a result of an accident, a work-related disease or infection, or medical treatment, the ACC provides a funeral grant up to around $5800.
The family of a homicide victim can receive up to $10,000. (Read our information about Accident Compensation).
The Veterans Association of New Zealand also provides a funeral grant, for the funeral costs of a veteran (eligibility criteria apply).
If someone dies and no-one is able (or willing) to pay for a funeral, the local council may waive or discount the cremation or burial fees. The funeral directory or the deceased’s family can apply to the council for this.
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What sort of financial assistance is available after the death of a loved one?
If the main income earner for your family dies, you may be left without sufficient income. There is support available if this has happened to you.
Widow’s benefit - A woman is eligible for the widow’s benefit if her husband, civil union or de facto partner has died and she comes within one of the following categories:
- She has dependent children
- She has had children and was married for at least 15 years
- She has had children, and the total of the period of her marriage (or marriages) and of any subsequent period of looking after children aged under 16 was at least 15 years
- She was widowed after 50 years of age, having been married for at least five years
- She is now at least 50, was widowed after reaching 40, was married for at least 10 years, and it is at least 15 years since the date of her marriage (or, if she was married more than once, since the date of her first marriage)
To find out more about the widow’s benefit, contact Work and Income New Zealand on 0800 559 009.
Support from ACC - When a person dies as a result of an accident, his or her family may be entitled to financial assistance from ACC. The sorts of assistance available are:
- Funeral grants: When a person dies as a result of an accident, ACC will pay a grant towards funeral expenses
- Survivor’s grants: A one-off survivor’s grant is paid to the surviving spouse or partner and additional grants are paid to the children if they are under 18, and to any other people who are dependant on the surviving partner
- Weekly compensation: The surviving spouse or partner is entitled to weekly compensation payments. Children under 18 (or under 21 if studying) and other dependents are also entitled to weekly compensation payments
For more information on ACC financial assistance, contact ACC
Who can request a death certificate?
Anyone can request a death certificate. This is done through the Department of Internal Affairs Births, Deaths, and Marriages office. If the family does not want the details of the death given out, they can request a Non-Disclosure Direction, which will expire after five years unless it is renewed.
To request a death certificate, visit the Births, Deaths and Marriages website.
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Where is the death registered if someone dies overseas?
The death is registered in the country where it occurred. For more information on what happens when someone dies overseas, click here.
I’m going to a Tangi for a friend of mine who died. What are some of the customs?
A Maori funeral is called a Tangihanga or Tangi, and is usually held at a marae, family house, or funeral parlour. Each Iwi (Maori community) has its own Tikanga (tradition) for Tangi, but central to all is support for the family.
The Tangi consists of several parts. The order of the powhiri or welcome ceremony is usually:
- Karanga -This is a spiritual call and response between the hosts and visitors
- Whaikorero - These are formal speeches by Maori orators
- Waiata -These songs are sung after each speech
- Koha - A gift is laid on the ground before the hosts by the visitors as a contribution towards the catering, which can be considerable for a large gathering
- Hongi -The visitors and hosts press noses as a greeting
- Pepeha - Introductions between the hosts and visitors
- Hakari - A meal is shared by hosts and visitors
There is a great Maori oral tradition, and much of the Tangi will be talk about the person’s life. Typically the family will stay at the marae or meeting place for the length of the Tangi, which may last as long as a week. People will stay close to the body for the entire time.
For a more in-depth description of the customs involved in a Tangi, including a guide on how to behave at a marae see the Korero Maori webpage on Tangihanga or consult your local Iwi. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to direct you to the nearest marae and give you contact details for your local Iwi.
Can someone get out of jail to attend a funeral?
A prisoner can apply to go to a funeral, Tangi, or commemoration of a family member or close friend. This needs to be approved by the prison’s Chief Executive or delegate, and they may impose conditions such as a time limit or a police escort.