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Someone has died at home

What to do now, whether the death was expected or not.

There is no rush. You can stay with your person for as long as you need. Nothing needs to happen immediately.

If the death was expected

For example, they were receiving palliative care, hospice care, or were terminally ill.

Call their GP or the after-hours medical service. The doctor needs to come and certify the death (issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death).
If they were under hospice care, call the hospice. They will guide you through the next steps and can arrange for a nurse to attend.
You do not need to call 111. This is not an emergency.
Take your time. The doctor does not need to come immediately. You can sit with your person, call family, and take as long as you need.

If the death was unexpected

If you are unsure whether the person has died, or if the death was sudden or unexplained.

Call 111 and ask for an ambulance if you are unsure whether the person has died.
If you are certain they have died, call 111 and tell them. The police will attend — this is standard procedure for any unexpected death at home. It does not mean anything is wrong.
Do not move the body until the police or doctor says it is okay.
The coroner may need to be involved. The police will arrange this. A coroner investigates all sudden, unexplained, or accidental deaths. See what happens with a coroner.

What happens next

Once a doctor has certified the death, you can contact a funeral director — or begin arranging a family-led funeral. There is no obligation to call a funeral director immediately. The body can remain at home.

Keeping the body at home

You can keep your person at home for several days if you wish. Many families choose to do this.

Keep the room cool — open windows, turn off heating, use a fan
Place ice packs or frozen gel packs around the body (wrapped in towels)
Embalming is not legally required in New Zealand
If burial or cremation happens within 2–3 days, simply keeping the body cool this way is enough — no embalming needed

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