Embalming
If bodies are well cared for, using icepacks, refrigeration and other strategies, they can be cared for without embalming for up to a week.
Embalming is commonplace for open-casket funerals but is not necessary. Embalming is not required by law in New Zealand. It is only required when a body is repatriated to another country and is a requirement of the airline. Some funeral directors may ask you to sign a waiver if you do not want your loved one embalmed. It is worth asking funeral directors what their policy is on embalming when you interview them.
You can choose to have your loved one’s body embalmed for longer preservation or if you are worried about your loved one’s body deteriorating due to warm weather or other conditions. Embalming can be useful if the final farewell has been delayed for more than a few days or if the body needs to be transported over a long distance.
How does embalming work?
To embalm the body, licensed technicians inject preservative chemicals into the circulatory system. Using a special machine, the blood is removed and replaced with the embalming fluid. If the body is emaciated or dehydrated, a solution can be injected via a hypodermic needle to plump facial features. If trauma or disease has altered the appearance of the deceased, the embalmer can use wax, adhesive and plaster to recreate a natural form. No organs are removed during the embalming process.
Embalming is not permanent as it only delays the natural process of death. Typically, it will preserve the body for around a week, but factors such as condition of the body and temperature conditions may affect this. On average, embalming costs between $500 and $800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Embalmers do their best to make the body look as natural as possible but bodies will still look different than the person when they were alive as the body no longer has blood circulating in the tissues. Embalming is usually organised and managed by funeral directors, who also have staff to dress your loved one in the clothing you provide, and also apply makeup and style the hair of your loved one.
Many funeral directors will allow family members to assist with dressing their loved one as well as styling the hair or applying makeup. Family members may also participate in the placement of the deceased within their casket. Embalmed bodies tend to feel firmer than non-embalmed bodies and all deceased bodies feel cool to touch. The higher the chemical index of the embalmed fluid, the less life-like the body may feel.
Your loved ones’ funeral arrangements should not be affected by organ or tissue donation. Your loved ones’ organs will be removed in a respectful and dignified manner in a normal surgical procedure. It is still possible for you to take your loved one’s body back home or to your marae and have an open casket following the donation.
One of the questions in the Go With Grace Plan is ‘do you want to be embalmed?’ with a space to make notes about why or why not. Your plan is then shared with friends and family so everyone is on the same page about your wishes.
Caring for the body of a loved one at home can help with the grieving process. As it might be the last physical contact you have with the person who has passed, it’s also a way to continue to care for your loved one after they have died. Read more about caring for the and keeping the body cool…
Embalming isn’t permitted at natural cemeteries because it uses hazardous substances, such as formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde, to preserve the body.
Cultural Perspective
Embalming in different cultures
Cultures differ in their views on embalming based on beliefs about the body, the soul, and what happens after death. In ancient Egypt, embalming was sacred and essential, as preserving the body enabled the soul to live on in the afterlife. In contrast, many Hindu, Buddhist, Indigenous, Jewish, and Islamic traditions see the body as either temporary or divinely ordained to return naturally to the earth. In these cultures, embalming is often unnecessary or discouraged because it interferes with spiritual impermanence, ecological cycles, or religious law.
Modern Western cultures, including New Zealanders, tend to view embalming pragmatically rather than spiritually. It is commonly used to delay decomposition for funerals, open-casket viewings, and transportation, offering families time and emotional closure. Overall, cultures that emphasize bodily preservation are more accepting of embalming, while those that prioritize spiritual continuity, impermanence, or natural return tend to reject it.
