Category: In the News

Screenshot 2025 07 31 134101
Caught out at the death

The financial strain of burying loved ones is becoming more evident, say two funeral directors from member firm Grinters Funeral Home.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 31 135106
A celebration of life

Tracey Brown And Carl Dooley funeral directors at Hibiscus Funeral Services talk about how planning farewells to our loved ones is changing.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 21 084603
Funeral director discusses rising costs

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

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 16 100924
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.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 16 100310
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

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 07 140054
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.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 07 02 074847
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.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 06 18 080548
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.

Read more
Screenshot 2025 06 09 162208
'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.

Read more