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Family law

Financial support for bereaved families

Funeral/tangihanga costs

Who can provide funding for the funeral or tangihanga?

You may be able to get help for the costs of the funeral or tangihanga from the following sources:

Social Security Act 2018, ss 90–94; Social Security Regulations 2018, reg 55

  • Funeral grant from Work and Income – If you can’t afford to pay for the funeral or tangihanga, you may be able to get up to $2,153 from Work and Income to cover the cost, including for preparing the body (for example, embalming), the coffin, newspaper notices, the hearse, and the costs of the burial plot or cremation. For more information, see www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/funeral-grant.html.

Accident Compensation Act 2001, s 69, Schedule 1, clause 64

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A death in the family

Where to go for more support

Confirmation of the cause of death – Coroners

www.coronialservices.justice.govt.nz

The website of Coronial Services of New Zealand has information about the role of coroners in investigating the causes of deaths.

Registering a death

www.govt.nz/organisations/births-deaths-and-marriages

The Births, Deaths and Marriages section of the Department of Internal Affairs has information on its website about registering deaths.

Burial and cremation

Local council websites have information about burial and cremation in their particular areas.

Financial support for bereaved families

www.workandincome.govt.nz

Work and Income’s website has information about possible financial support for funerals and tangihanga. Click on “Benefits and payments / Urgent or unexpected costs”.

ACC‘s website has information about different types of accident compensation and payments that can be made to family members when a person has died in an accident. Go to: www.acc.co.nz , and click on “I’m injured / Types of financial support / Financial support if someone has died”.

Gathering kaimoana for tangihanga

www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/maori-customary-fishing

The Ministry of Primary Industries has information on its website about Māori customary rights for gathering kaimoana for tangihanga, hui and other traditional purposes.

Organ donation

www.donor.co.nz

The website of Organ Donation New Zealand has information about organ and tissue donation.

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