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Funeral director discusses rising costs

Funeral director Wade Downey discusses the high cost of funerals and challenges facing the industry.

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Dying proves to be a costly undertaking

Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes said councils’ annual increases in burial and cremation fees were a significant driver of funeral costs.

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Even basic funerals are becoming 'unaffordable'

Funeral Directors Association CEO Gillian Boyes talks to Herald NOW's Ryan Bridge about the high cost of funerals

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Maori tangi
Themed funerals - celebrating unique lives

When I talk to families about funeral arrangements, I often hear the same concern: "We want something that truly reflects who they were, but we're not sure what's appropriate." It's a conversation I have regularly, and I understand why families feel uncertain about moving beyond traditional services.

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Let’s make death a local body election issue

In the lead up to the upcoming local body elections, the Funeral Directors Association calls for Councils to be held to account for annual increases in their burial and cremation fees, which are a significant driver of costs for even the most basic funerals and compound the affordability challenges for those who rely on the Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) Funeral Grant.

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Covid-19 Inquiry: Families and businesses detail crippling losses, lost schooling and farewelling dying family

New Zealanders have spoken of the impact of the Covid-19 response on their lives and businesses, including crippling financial losses, children falling behind in schooling and struggles to farewell dying loved ones.

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The real story behind the video of a bicycle pulling a ‘dead body’ down a busy Auckland road

Intrigued by the mystery shrouded figure, Stuff made enquiries and discovered the person being pulled was definitely not alive.

Nor were they ever.

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Funeral costs in the spotlight

A funeral bill is one you never want to pay, but there's a push to make the whole ordeal cheaper and better.

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'Changing paperwork is not going to fix funeral debt': Association slams call to remove funeral directors as cremation middlemen

Funeral Directors Association chief executive Gillian Boyes said reducing the amount of paper work is not going to fix funeral debt for families.

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