Family-led funerals in NZ
It is fully legal for families to arrange everything themselves. Here's how.
You do not need a funeral director. It is fully legal in New Zealand for families to care for their own dead, transport them, and arrange burial or cremation themselves.
Many families choose a funeral director precisely because it lifts the logistical and physical load at an exhausting time. Both paths are valid. This page simply covers the option that is less well known.
What you can do yourself
- Keep them at home
- Wash and dress your person
- Build or buy your own casket
- Transport them in any vehicle (it must be covered and secured)
- Hold the funeral at home, on a marae, outdoors, or any suitable place
- Liaise directly with the crematorium or cemetery
- Register the death with Births, Deaths and Marriages
What is legally required
- A doctor must issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death before the body can be moved (for a natural death)
- If cremation is planned, a medical referee appointed by the crematorium must also approve it, in addition to the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death. A coroner's authority replaces this where the death has been referred to a coroner
- The death must be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) within 3 working days of burial or cremation
- The body must be in a coffin or other suitable container for transport
- Anyone with a valid driver's licence can transport a body — no special licence needed
What is NOT required
- Embalming is not mandatory. If burial or cremation happens within 2–3 days, simply keeping them cool is enough — turn the heating off in the room, open windows, use cold packs or ice on the abdomen. A funeral director can also provide cooling without embalming.
- You do not need a hearse
- You do not need a funeral director for any part of the process
Private burial on your own land
Burial on private land is possible but tightly restricted in New Zealand. It generally needs council and, in many cases, ministerial approval, and is mostly limited to areas with no public cemetery nearby. Where allowed, the site must meet council setback rules (often a minimum distance from any waterway) and be recorded on the land title. Talk to your local council early.
Costs
A family-led funeral can cost as little as a few hundred dollars (cremation fee + basic casket) compared to $8,000–$10,000 for a standard funeral with a funeral director.
Practical guidance
Some families find independent guides such as diyfuneral.co.nz useful for step-by-step instructions.