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What to do when someone dies

Your first call should be either to a Funeral Director or the police

Who to call when someone has died depends on the circumstances of the death, and where the death occurred.

The most important step is to confirm the death and for an appropriate medical professional to ascertain the cause of the death.  After this step, the funeral director of your choice can arrange transport of the person to their funeral home, arrange after-care and await your further instructions.

If the death was not unexpected, the rest home is likely to call their on-call doctor/medical professional to confirm death and document the cause of death. If the death was unexpected, suspicious or the cause of death cannot be determined, the rest home may call the Police who act as the Coroner’s agent.

As the grieving family, your first call should be to a Funeral Director who can talk you through the next stages.

If the death was expected, a doctor/medical professional still has to confirm death and document the cause of death. This is most often facilitated by your funeral director who will liaise with the family’s doctor. If the death was unexpected, or you have any concerns, please call the police. 

If a New Zealand resident dies overseas, your funeral director can help you understand the options in regards arranging for the person's body or ashes to be repatriated (brought back to New Zealand). Click here to read more about repatriation requirements by country.

The coroner is a legal officer appointed under the Coroners Act who has the duty to establish the cause of death in certain circumstances.

The coroner may become involved when:

  • a doctor is unavailable or unable to establish cause of death
  • there is a sudden unexpected death
  • death occurs form other than natural causes
  • there is an accidental death
  • there has been no recent consultation with a medical practitioner

In these cases, it is important the deceased is not moved or disturbed in any way without the permission of the coroner. 

When someone dies suddenly and the death was unexpected, suspicious or the cause of death cannot be determined, the Police will act as the Coroner’s agent.

The Ministry of Justice has a resource which explains the NZ coronial process 'When someone dies suddenly - A guide to Coronial Services in Aotearoa.'

The Funeral Director
First call
First meeting with the funeral director
Who has authority?
Navigating funeral planning and estate administration
Information to gather
Resources

The Funeral Director

Funeral directors are available on call whenever a death occurs. Their role is to ensure your family can spend time together supporting each other while they organise your wishes to ensure a meaningful farewell occurs. 

Your funeral director can provide some or all of the following services:

  • meeting with the family and ascertaining their wishes
  • transporting the deceased
  • liaising with the doctor, hospital, and coroner as necessary
  • registering the death with authorities
  • organising death notices
  • preparing, embalming, dressing, and casketing the deceased
  • ensuring cultural and/or ethnic customs are observed
  • arranging and attending the service
  • providing service sheets/catering
  • organising other requirements such as live streaming, video/
    audio recording
  • liaising with the celebrant or minister
  • liaising with the florist
  • organising the burial or cremation with councils

It is worth noting a funeral will typically require 16 – 20 hours of a funeral director’s time. Funeral directors normally charge a professional service fee and pass on additional disbursements from other parties.

First call

In the initial interaction (usually a phone call) the funeral director is likely to want the following information from you:

  1. The name of the deceased
  2. The contact details of the primary contact
  3. A time and venue to meet for the first discussion about funeral arrangements
  4. Who has authority to allow the transfer from the place of death (see below)
  5. Address details so they can arrange transfer of the deceased to their care
  6. Questions about whether a doctor has been contacted to verify cause of death

They will then arrange for the transfer into their care, and perhaps a visit to a doctor for an evaluation of the cause of death.


First meeting with the funeral director

The funeral director will meet you at your home or in their offices at a convenient time to discuss arrangements - this is usually within 24 hours of first contact. The funeral director will offer a range of choices to suit your family’s culture, customs and religious requirements.

Key decisions to discuss are:

  • Who the decision maker is
  • Burial or cremation, or other options
  • After-care options and recommendations
  • The funeral service itself

Before that first meeting there are some practical matters you may like to start attending to if you feel you can manage:

  • Contacting the next of kin
  • Contacting the Executor of the Will or the solicitor
  • Start thinking about the kind of funeral you would like
  • Gathering clothes for the deceased
  • Thinking about whether you would like a viewing
  • Determining the level of after-care you would like (and finding a suitable photograph)
  • Finding suitable photographs for the service sheet
    Locating birth and marriage certificates

Who has authority?

One of the first questions a funeral director will try and determine is who has authority to make the after-care and funeral decisions for the person who has died. If there is a will, the executor usually has authority. If there is no will, or the will has yet to be found, the next of kin has legal authority. The next of kin may choose to nominate a family member to have authority on their behalf.

The courts have determined the following hierarchy in determining who is next of kin:

  • Surviving spouse, Civil Union Partner or de facto partner
  • Children of the deceased
  • Parents of the deceased
  • Brothers and sisters of the deceased
  • Grandparents of the deceased
  • Aunts and Uncles of the decease

Navigating Funeral Planning and Estate Administration 

In times of loss and mourning, the complexities of funeral planning and estate administration can seem overwhelming. The Shine Lawyers guide will provide you with the information, guidance, and support you need during this difficult journey.

Information to gather

One of the important roles a Funeral Director does on your behalf is to register the death. Below is the type of information needed - much of this information can be found on birth and marriage certificates. You can download the form here.

Resources

The Department of Internal Affairs has developed a Te Hokinga à Waiurua End of Life Service to support family and whanau experiencing a death, with information on what to do and where to get financial and emotional support when someone dies.