Who to notify — forwhen.nz

You don't need to do all of this at once. Start with the urgent ones (first week), then work through the rest over the coming weeks. Tick them off as you go — your progress is saved.

Not sure what to say? See what to say when you call.

Don't cancel everything immediately

People will keep emailing, texting, and writing to your person for months — sometimes years. They had no way of knowing.

Email: keep their main inbox active for at least 6–12 months. Set up an auto-reply explaining what's happened and giving a contact email for anything urgent. You'll catch old friends, distant cousins, professional contacts, and admin loose ends.
Mobile: instead of cancelling, port the number to a cheap pre-pay SIM and keep it for 6 months so you don't miss calls. Listen to their voicemail one last time before changing it.
Mail: NZ Post mail redirect (12 months, ~$30) lets you forward physical post to the executor's address. Don't rush to cancel utilities while statements may still be arriving.
Subscriptions: note them as you spot them in bank statements over the year — they'll surface gradually. Cancel as you go.

First week — urgent

Work and Income / MSD — stop benefit or NZ Super payments. 0800 559 009
Deceased's bank(s) — call with death certificate. They will freeze sole accounts; joint accounts remain open. Bank-specific guides: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac.
Life insurance provider — start claim with policy number + death certificate.
ACC (if accident-related death) — 0800 101 996
Deceased's employer — final pay, group insurance, death benefit.

Weeks 2–4

IRD — notify of death, arrange final tax return. 0800 227 774 or via myIR.
KiwiSaver provider — balance paid to the estate.
Waka Kotahi / NZTA — cancel or transfer driver's licence. Update vehicle registration.
Health insurance provider — cancel or update policy.
Home and contents insurance — update or cancel.
Car insurance — update or cancel.
Solicitor / accountant — if the deceased had ongoing professional relationships.

Weeks 4–8

Subscriptions and memberships

Sky / streaming services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc.)
Gym membership
Club memberships (RSA, sports clubs, etc.)
Professional memberships
Magazine / newspaper subscriptions
AA membership
Library card
Loyalty programmes (Flybuys, Airpoints, etc.)

Digital accounts

NZ has no specific digital legacy legislation. Each platform has its own process:

Platform	What to do
Facebook	Memorialise or delete — via Legacy Contact or proof of death
Instagram	Memorialise or remove — request with proof of death
Google / Gmail	Inactive Account Manager (if set up), or request access with death certificate + proof of relationship
Apple / iCloud	Digital Legacy contact (if set up), or request with court order
Microsoft / Outlook	Request next-of-kin process with death certificate
X (Twitter)	Request deactivation with proof of death
LinkedIn	Request memorialisation or removal

Tip

Don't rush to delete accounts. Some people find comfort in being able to visit their loved one's social media page. You can always memorialise now and decide about deletion later.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional.

Dollar figures and entitlements change periodically. We link to authoritative sources where possible. Last reviewed: April 2026.

Legal What to Say