Funeral Budgeting Examples
The average cost of a funeral in New Zealand is $10,000 but will vary depending on the location, the type of service you would like, the number of guests, and whether you choose to hire professionals or arrange components of the service yourself.
The following examples give an outline of the type of costs associated with different types of services including burial, cremation, natural burial, use of funeral homes, holding the service at a church, and caring for your loved one at home. The costs outlined in these five examples are approximated. Read more about funeral costs.
Funeral Example #1
Direct cremation | Local sports club | 30 guests | approximate cost $1,100
In this scenario the deceased had communicated to family that he wanted a very simple farewell. The family chose a direct cremation service (sometimes called simple cremation) which included transport to the funeral home, caring for the body, a plain MDF casket, cremation, death certificate and return of the ashes to the family. The body was not embalmed and there was no option for the family to view the body. A small gathering was held at the deceased’s local sports club with a bar tab to toast the deceased while his favourite song was played.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Cremation | from $600 | Includes transport, plain casket, death certificate and return of ashes. |
| Catering | $500 | Bar tab at the deceased's local sports club or RSA |
Funeral Example #2
Burial | Home funeral | 75 guests | approximate cost $5,093
In this scenario the family chose not to hire a professional funeral home and decided to keep and care for their loved one at home before the burial. The house was decorated with numerous floral arrangements. The deceased person had made and decorated their own coffin ahead of time at a local Coffin Club. The family decided to transport the body themselves, where it was laid to rest in the family burial plot. The deceased person’s details were added onto a headstone already in place at the burial plot. The service and wake was held at the family home.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrant | $400 | |
| Cooling pads for home care | $560 | $80 per night x 7 nights. |
| Death Notice | $100 | One newspaper notice. |
| Flowers | $600 | |
| Catering | $1500 | Provided by the family, $20 per head. |
| Engraving on existing headstone | $900 | |
| Digging Fee | $900 | |
| Death certificate | $133 | $33 for the certificate and $100 for medical sign off. |
Funeral Example #3
Natural burial | Eco-funeral | 50 guests | approximate cost $10,723
In this scenario the family chose a natural burial using a linen shroud instead of a casket. They hired an eco-funeral specialist to help organise the service and to care for the body before the service. A native tree was used in lieu of a gravemarker, and the family requested native flowers from the guests as gifts. Catering was provided by the family at their home.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eco funeral service professional fee | $4000 | |
| Transfer fee | $400 | Transferring of the deceased to the funeral home. |
| Celebrant | $400 | |
| Shroud | $900 | |
| Refrigeration/Cool room | $400 | |
| Music | $0 | Spotify playlist. |
| Flowers | $0 | Native flowers provided by funeral guests. |
| Hearse | $300 | |
| Catering | $500 | Provided by the family, $10 per head. |
| Grave marker | $90 | Native tree. |
| Burial Plot | $2500 | |
| Registering Natural burial plot | $200 | |
| Digging Fee | $900 | |
| Death certificate | $133 | $33 for the certificate and $100 for medical sign off. |
Funeral Example #4
Burial | Church | 150 guests | approximate cost $17,283
In this scenario the family hired a funeral home to help with arrangements and to provide care for their loved one before the service, but chose to hold the service at their local church with a burial in the churchyard. The wake was also held in the church hall with professional catering. The family chose to have a memorial book displayed. Flowers were collected from family gardens and arranged by the daughter of the deceased. An organist was hired to play during the service and a harpist played during the wake.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Church hire | $300 | |
| Funeral home/director professional service fee | $4000 | |
| Transfer fee | $400 | Transferring of the deceased to the funeral home. |
| Minister | $300 | |
| Solid wood casket | $2500 | |
| Mortuary care | $900 | |
| Death Notice | $100 | One newspaper notice. |
| Music | $350 | Organist to play during service and harpist to play during wake. |
| Flowers | $0 | Flowers picked from family gardens and arranged by daughter of deceased. |
| Service sheets | $500 | Designed and printed by funeral home. |
| Memorial book | $100 | |
| Hearse | $300 | |
| Catering | $3000 | $20 per head. |
| Burial plot | $1500 | In local churchyard. |
| Digging fee | $900 | |
| Headstone | $2000 | |
| Death certificate | $133 | $33 for the certificate and $100 for medical sign off. |
Funeral Example #5
Cremation | Funeral Home | 60 guests | approximate cost $10,033
In this scenario the family chose to hold the service in the chapel room of their local funeral home, and the wake in the lounge of the funeral home. Following the service, there was a cremation performed by the funeral home, and the ashes were given to the family to be scattered so they did not purchase an urn. The funeral home produced a photographic tribute, the service sheets and played music via their sound system. A casket spray of white lilies was displayed during the service, along with flowers sent by the guests.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | $0 | The service and wake was held at the funeral home so there was no additional venue hire costs. |
| Funeral home/director professional service fee | $4000 | |
| Transfer fee | $400 | Transferring of the deceased to the funeral home. |
| Celebrant | $500 | |
| Eco casket | $650 | |
| Mortuary care | $900 | |
| Death Notice | $100 | One newspaper notice in The Press. |
| Music | $0 | |
| Flowers | $250 | One casket spray, other flowers were provided by the guests. |
| Service sheets | $300 | Designed and printed by funeral home. |
| Photographic tribute | $200 | Designed by funeral home. |
| Hearse | $300 | |
| Catering | $1200 | $20 per head. |
| Cremation | $1000 | |
| Temporary urn | $100 | Temporary bamboo tube. |
| Death certificate | $133 | $33 for the certificate and $100 for medical sign off. |
Different types of funerals
Some families view the funeral service as a chance to celebrate the life of their loved one and bring people together, others prefer a simpler, more private occasion reflecting a sombre mood. There is no right or wrong choice, the type of funeral you choose to plan is entirely personal.
A funeral can be a big celebration of life or a small, private gathering.
