Costs
What a NZ funeral actually costs
Indicative ranges by service type for 2026, with what each tier includes and what's typically extra. We publish these openly so families aren't blindsided in a vulnerable moment.
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.
Direct cremation, unattended
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.
What's typically included
- Collection from place of death (within 50km)
- Cremation fee at council/private crematorium
- Death certificate (1 copy)
- Return of ashes in a basic container
- All regulatory paperwork
What's typically extra
- Memorial service held later (separate cost)
- Premium urn or scattering vessel
- Repatriation interstate or overseas
- Embalming if requested
Direct cremation, attended viewing
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.
What's typically included
- Everything in unattended direct cremation
- Brief private viewing at the funeral home (30-60 min)
- Light cosmetic preparation
- A basic casket suitable for cremation
What's typically extra
- Embalming
- Premium casket (varies $1-8k)
- Memorial service or formal service
Traditional service with cremation
A full chapel-style service followed by cremation. The most common NZ funeral format. Includes celebrant, music, flowers, order of service, refreshments after.
What's typically included
- Everything in attended direct cremation
- Full service at funeral home chapel or other venue
- Celebrant or minister fee
- Order of service printing (50-100 copies)
- Music coordination
- Standard flower arrangement
- Catering for ~50 guests after the service
What's typically extra
- Premium casket ($2-8k)
- Embalming for extended viewing periods
- Larger venue or off-site venue (church, marae, other)
- Live music or musicians
- Larger or premium catering
- Live-stream of the service
Traditional service with burial
A full service followed by burial at a council or private cemetery. More expensive than cremation primarily because of the burial plot and casket.
What's typically included
- Everything in traditional service with cremation
- Burial plot fee (council cemetery)
- Standard casket suitable for burial
- Hearse and graveside service
- Initial gravestone or marker (basic)
What's typically extra
- Premium burial plot (private, multi-plot, view-area)
- Premium casket
- Custom gravestone work (separate $2-15k)
- Eco-burial site if specifically requested
Tangihanga, marae-based
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.
What's typically included
- Director's coordination and tangihanga support
- Casket preparation
- Transport between place of death, marae, urupā
- Cremation or burial at urupā or council cemetery
- All regulatory paperwork
What's typically extra
- Marae-based costs (typically supported by koha from whānau and manuhiri)
- Catering across the multi-day tangi (often whānau-led)
- Repatriation to home marae if not local
- Embalming for extended tangi periods
One funeral home’s published prices, line by line
The ranges above are a guide. A real price list is more useful. Dil’s Funeral Services on Auckland’s North Shore publishes its full list; these lines are copied from its May 2026 price list, GST included.
- Professional fee, full funeral or memorial service: $5,955
- Professional fee, direct cremation with no service or viewing: $3,030
- Professional fee, simple cremation with a family viewing or gathering: $3,470
- Transfer of the deceased: $470 · Hearse for the service: $492
- Custom wood casket: $1,705 to $5,895 · Eco casket: $3,055 to $5,435
- Schnapper Rock Crematorium cremation fee: $1,065 to $2,515
- Burial plot with interment, North Shore Memorial Park: $5,200 to $9,900
- Celebrant or minister: $590 to $705 · Chapel hire: $662
- NZ Herald death notice: $300 · Death certificate: $38 a copy
Cremation only is usually the cheapest option. Direct cremation prices by city compares a national provider’s package prices, from $1,945 in Auckland, with the line-by-line total above.