Reading
What to know, when you have time
Plain-language writing — 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.
Reading · 6 min
Funeral Grant NZ: help with funeral costs from Work and Income and ACC
Work and Income's Funeral Grant pays up to $2,697.43 if you meet its income and asset tests. ACC helps if the death was an accident. How each one works.
Reading · 6 min
Funeral loans in NZ: what to check before you borrow for a funeral
Before taking a loan for a funeral, check the help you never repay: Work and Income's Funeral Grant (up to $2,697.43), ACC (up to $8,236.40 after an accident), Veterans' Affairs, iwi, and the estate itself. Then the safer ways to borrow, if you still need to.
Reading · 7 min
How to write a funeral notice in NZ: wording examples and what to include
Funeral notice wording examples for NZ: traditional, short, private cremation, celebration of life and memorial later. What to include, in what order, and where to place it.
Reading · 7 min
Cremation only, no funeral: direct cremation costs in NZ, city by city
Yes, you can have a cremation with no funeral in NZ. Cremation-only runs from $1,945 in Auckland to $3,400 in Hawke's Bay on one national provider's published prices. What is included, what isn't, and how a funeral home compares.
Reading · 6 min
Death certificate NZ: how to get one, what it costs and who registers the death
A NZ death certificate costs $35 from Births, Deaths and Marriages, and the funeral director usually registers the death first. When to order, how many copies you need, and what to do if there is no funeral director.