When can the Funeral be held?

The funeral may be held at any time after there is no further legal impediment to the intended final disposition of the Deceased. This may occur in less than an hour or take several weeks depending on the circumstances of the death and what the family's choice is, burial or cremation. Funerals are usually held within two to four days of death. If family members are outside of New Zealand, a longer time may be needed. We can accommodate that requirement if necessary.

What sort of information will the Funeral Director require?

Your Funeral Director must give the Registrar General specific information when the death is officially registered. This includes full name and address, occupation, place of birth, details of current and any previous marriages, ages of living children, and details about the deceased's parents. This information is detailed in a booklet which is available free from our office. In addition we will ask your preferences regarding the venue, type of service, whether your instruction is for a burial or cremation, type of casket you wish to choose, and a variety of other questions which are designed to provide a service most suited to your family.

What does a funeral cost?

As a round general figure, without knowing any specific details, we found that an "average" burial or creation service costs approximately between $4,500-$5,500. Disbursements, such as multiple newspaper notices or catering, together with the quality of the casket can add many hundreds to the overall total. The price can be made to suit the clients budget. All staff are qualified to give an indication of price at the time of consultation. GST should be allowed for in quoted price

What assistance is there in meeting the funeral expenses?

A number of benefits are available to assist in payment of funeral expenses, including:

	Work & Income NZ Funeral Grants
	Returned Services Grants
	Accident Compensation Grants

Further information is available on request, and wherever possible, we will assist you with the completion of the necessary forms.

What is Embalming?

Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, slows down decomposition, and can enhance the appearance of a person damaged by disease or a trauma. It also lengthens the time between death and burial. Embalming will improve the appearance of the deceased - with closure of the eyes and the mouth, shampooing of the hair and washing the body, shaving if appropriate, and attending to the on-set of post-mortem lividity.

Post-mortem lividity is bluish discolouration of the skin that appears shortly after death. It occurs because of the loss of circulation and the effect of gravity on the body's blood supply. It is particularly noticeable on the ears, finger nails and sometimes the cheeks and other parts of the face, and is usually fully correctable when embalming occurs within a reasonable time after death.

The Clergy

Each Church has its own Funeral style within its particular denomination. Most Clergy are trained in all aspects of bereavement and pastoral care and have had experience in leading funeral services as a combination of Liturgy, eulogy, music, hymns and prayers. It can be a spiritual comfort to family having their pastor, priest, minister or reverend take the funeral service.

Funeral Celebrant

If no officiant is personally known to the family, the funeral director can suggest a suitable celebrant, who will help the family and friends to celebrate the life of the deceased. Some people want a celebrant to conduct a funeral ceremony without a religious component or association. A Celebrant can design a service, which incorporates religious components, if it is wanted.

Family Member or Friend

A Family member or friend may feel qualified to take the funeral, but they need to be a confident public speaker and have good organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Can I be buried in my favourite area in the countryside?

NZ Statutory Law requires the use of a Public Cemetery when within 50 kms by road.
If burial on a farm is permitted and desired then you need to consider whether or not to register the burial site as a properly constituted and surveyed family cemetery, with perhaps fencing and upkeep, that will be recorded on the Land Title.

What happens to my ashes after cremation?

	Ashes may be - Interred in a family grave
	Placed in a Family Plot at a cemetery
	Placed in a Columbarium Wall of Remembrance or a garden plot at a Crematorium
	Scattered - anywhere that does not give offence
	Retained by the family at home either in the original container or an Ashes Urn purchased from a funeral home
	Kept at the funeral home for several months while the family decides what to do
	Or if the Deceased has made a will and left instructions for the scattering of the ashes, it is the responsibility of the Executor of the will to see this is carried out as requested.
	During a cremation the casket is cremated too. Cremation procedures are set out in law. Cremation ashes contained in a box supplied by the Crematorium will be marked to avoid any confusion about the remains authenticity.