Without the pressure
Quiet guidance, when it's needed.
If you're reading this in the middle of something hard, we're sorry. Below: directors near you, what an honest funeral costs in 2026, pre-paid plans worth considering, and notes on tangihanga and tikanga for those organising or attending.
- FDANZ members
- All of Aotearoa
- No sales pressure
The cost question
What does a NZ funeral actually cost?
Whether you're planning ahead or in the middle of it, the cost question is usually first. We publish indicative ranges by service type — without selling you anything. The full guide adds what's included, what's extra, and how to spot when an itemised quote is actually full.
Indicative NZ funeral costs, 2026
Updated 26 April 2026
Direct cremation, unattended
low $1,800·$2,600·$3,800 high
Cremation only, no service, no viewing, no chapel. The deceased is collected, all paperwork completed, cremation conducted privately, and ashes returned to the family. The cheapest dignified option.
Direct cremation, attended viewing
low $2,600·$3,500·$4,800 high
As above, but with a brief private family viewing before cremation. Common where families want to say goodbye in person but don't need a full service.
Traditional service with cremation
low $7,500·$11,500·$18,000 high
A full chapel-style service followed by cremation. The most common NZ funeral format. Includes celebrant, music, flowers, order of service, refreshments after.
Traditional service with burial
low $9,500·$14,000·$22,000 high
A full service followed by burial at a council or private cemetery. More expensive than cremation primarily because of the burial plot and casket.
Tangihanga, marae-based
low $4,500·$7,500·$12,000 high
Multi-day tangihanga held at a marae according to tikanga. Pricing varies hugely with whānau scale and koha contributions; the funeral-director costs below cover the formal logistical support, separate from marae-based costs.
Ranges reflect direct costs from FDANZ-listed directors. Variations depend on casket choice, venue, embalming, catering scale and regional cremation/burial pricing. A reputable director will itemise the quote before you commit.
The directory
A handful of directors, listed quietly
FDANZ-listed, owner-led, with the service styles each is known for. Browse by region for the full directory.
Auckland
Dilworth Funerals
Auckland Central
Quiet, traditional Auckland firm; multi-generational family business.
- Traditional
- Civil
- Memorial only
Auckland
Tangihanga Tāmaki
South Auckland
Auckland's specialist tangihanga support service, working alongside marae.
- Tangihanga
- Traditional
Auckland
Pasifika Funerals Manukau
Manukau
Specialist support for Sāmoan, Tongan, and Cook Islands families.
- Pasifika
- Traditional
Wellington
Wellington Quiet Funerals
Wellington Central
Civil-celebrant-led Wellington firm with strong eco-burial capability.
- Civil
- Eco-burial
- Memorial only
By region
Find a director near you
Every region of Aotearoa is covered, with notes on the local service styles common to each.
Why this directory
Quiet, independent, free of sales pressure.
FDANZ members
Every funeral director listed is a member of the Funeral Directors Association of NZ (FDANZ) and operates under its code of professional conduct.
Transparent costs
Direct cremation, traditional service, pre-paid plans — we publish the actual NZ price ranges so families aren't blindsided in a vulnerable moment.
Whole of Aotearoa
From Kaitaia to Invercargill. Every region has listed directors with their service styles, languages spoken, and venues.
Pre-paid plan guidance
Pre-paid plans can protect against rising costs but only if structured right. We explain what to look for — and what to avoid — before signing.
Reading
What to know, when you have time
Practical, plain-language writing on the things families benefit from understanding — without needing to want to. Each one is short.
Reading · 5 min
What to do in the first hours after a death
A short, practical sequence — written for someone under shock, who needs to know just enough to take the next step.
Reading · 6 min
Attending a tangihanga — for non-Māori
Practical notes for attending a tangihanga as a non-Māori friend, colleague or family member. What to expect, what koha looks like, and what's appropriate.
Reading · 6 min
Pre-paid funeral plans in NZ — what to look for, what to avoid
Pre-paid plans can protect against rising costs — or quietly become an inheritance for the funeral director. Here's how to evaluate one before signing.
Get in touch
We can help quietly
Tell us your region and any specific needs — tangihanga support, te reo Māori speaker, eco-burial, low-cost direct cremation. We'll send a short reply with one or two directors who fit, and nothing more.
- Independent — we don't take referral fees from directors
- We never pass your details on without asking first
- If you don't want a reply, you don't have to give your email