Cremation Regulations 1973 regs 4(2), 5(1), 7(1), Forms A, B, F

If the deceased’s body is going to be cremated, you will need the following documents:

• the Certificate of Cause of Death given by a doctor or nurse practitioner (or the coroner’s Order for Disposal of Body) – take this with you when you go to the local council office or private crematorium operator to apply for a cremation.
• an Application for Cremation (Form A) – complete and sign this at the office of the local council or crematorium operator. You will need to pay for the cremation at the same time (see below). When you complete this form, you will be given forms B and F (see below) to complete.
• a Certificate of Medical Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner (Form B) – take this new form to the doctor or nurse who saw and identified the body after death for them to complete and sign. This form gives more information about the circumstances of the death.
• a Permission to Cremate form (Form F) – get this signed by the “medical referee” from the local council or private operator that runs the crematorium. You will need to show the medical referee the completed Forms A and B (see above). The medical referee is a doctor, and their approval is a final precaution that the cause of death has been determined and there is no reason why the cremation can’t go ahead. There’s usually a charge for the medical referee’s services, but this may already be included in the cremation fee.

You will need to give all these completed forms to the crematorium manager or sexton on the day of the cremation.

You will need to pay the cremation fee to the council or private crematorium operator immediately or show them proof that Work and Income or ACC will pay for it through a funeral grant (see: “Financial support for bereaved families”).

A cremation in Porirua in 2026, for example, costs $725 for an adult and $327 for a child aged from 2 to 10.