Frequently asked questions

What happens next depends on where and how the person died.

If the death was unexpected, call 111 and ask for an ambulance and police.

If someone dies at home following an expected illness, their healthcare provider (hospice) or doctor should normally be contacted. If the death occurs overnight and the circumstances are expected, this may be able to wait until the morning.

If the person dies in a hospital, hospice or rest home, the staff caring for them will guide you through the immediate process.

Once the appropriate medical steps have been taken, you can contact a funeral director. A funeral director can help with transferring your loved one, preparing them for viewing, funeral arrangements, burial or cremation, paperwork and coordinating the funeral.

There does not always need to be an immediate rush. When circumstances allow, whānau may wish to spend some time saying goodbye before their loved one is uplifted and transferred to a funeral home.

Our team will talk you through what needs to happen next and what your personal choices might be. Our main focus is to help make the process as easy and manageable as possible.

If someone dies unexpectedly at home, call 111 and ask for an ambulance and police.

If the person has been receiving end-of-life care and their death was expected, contact their healthcare provider (eg: Hospice). With many expected end of life events, there is no need to immediately call an ambulance or police.

You may wish to spend some time with your loved one before contacting a funeral director. Health New Zealand advises that, where circumstances allow, there is no need to rush and it is often possible for someone who has died to remain at home for a period so family and whānau can say goodbye.

If you are using a funeral director, they can then arrange a suitable time to transfer the tūpāpaku or person who has died into their care.

We can explain what needs to happen and work around the needs of you and your family / whānau.

Ormsby Family Funerals provide professional funeral services to families across the Waikato region and surrounding communities, with dedicated local care available in Hamilton and Ōtorohanga. Please feel free to contact us or reach out directly to discuss how we can assist you.

Burial (Interment) involves placing your loved one in a dedicated cemetery plot, either in a traditional grave or an existing family plot. Cremation involves a process that transforms the physical body to ash remains, which can then be kept in an urn, scattered in a meaningful place, or interred in a memorial garden. We are here to talk you through both options to help you choose what best aligns with you and your family's wishes, beliefs, and traditions.

Cremation is often less expensive than burial because burial can involve additional cemetery costs that include purchasing a plot and paying interment fees.

However, the final cost depends on the funeral itself.

A personalised cremation service may cost more than a simple burial, while a burial service involving extensive arrangements may cost considerably more than a simple direct cremation.

Other costs including the casket, funeral director's services, embalming, transport, venue, catering, flowers and celebrant fees may apply regardless of whether burial or cremation is chosen.

Rather than choosing solely on price, families may also want to consider the wishes of the recently deceased, family traditions, cultural beliefs and what type of farewell feels right.

We can explain both options and provide an understandable breakdown of the likely costs before arrangements are finalised.

The cost of a funeral in New Zealand can vary considerably because every funeral is different.

The overall cost may be influenced by factors such as:

• whether the person is buried or cremated
• The physical size and weight of a deceased individual
• the type of casket selected
• embalming and preparation
• transport and hearse requirements
• cemetery or crematorium fees
• venue hire
• flowers
• catering
• celebrant or clergy fees
• funeral notices
• livestreaming, slideshows or memorial tributes
• cultural or tangihanga requirements.

A simple funeral or direct cremation will generally cost less than a larger funeral involving multiple services, venues and additional arrangements.

Funeral costs will always be explained clearly by our team so families understand which costs come from the funeral home and which are third-party expenses (Disbursements).

We believe families should be able to understand their options and make decisions that suit both their wishes and their budget.

Absolutely. Every life is unique, and we encourage personal touches. From music choices, photo slideshows, and personalized Forever Beds and urns to customized orders of service, special floral tributes, or holding the service at a favorite family location, we will work closely with you to create a deeply meaningful farewell.

Yes. Pre-planning your funeral relieves your loved ones of difficult decisions during an emotional time and ensures your personal wishes are respected. We offer pre-arrangement consultations and secure prepayment options. Reach out to our team to discuss setting up a plan in confidence.

There is no single rule for how quickly a funeral must be held.

The timing will depend on the circumstances of the death, the family's wishes, cultural or religious practices, availability of venues and cemeteries, whether family members need to travel, and whether any official processes need to be completed first.

Some families prefer a funeral within a few days. Others need more time.

The important thing is that arrangements are made appropriately rather than feeling unnecessarily rushed.

Our team can help coordinate the timing of the transfer/s, viewing/s, funeral service/s, burial or cremation and any other arrangements.

We work with families to create a timeframe that respects their circumstances, tikanga, culture and wishes.

No, Embalming is not required for every funeral.

Whether embalming is appropriate will depend on factors including how long the person will remain before burial or cremation, whether there will be a viewing/s, the condition of the body, the primary cause of death (ie: communicable disease), transportation requirements (repatriation) and the family's cultural or personal preferences.

Embalming can help preserve and care for a person's appearance, particularly when family members will be spending time with them over several days.

Embalming does NOT stop the decomposition process but it does slow the process in most cases.

There may also be situations where a different form of care or preparation is suitable.

Please feel free to discuss options with us before making a decision.

At Ormsby Family Funerals, we can explain the different approaches to after-death care and help your whānau choose what feels appropriate.

Yes, In most circumstances.

Some families choose to have their loved one return home so whānau and friends can spend time with them before the funeral, burial or cremation.

This may form an important part of a tangihanga, cultural tradition, religious practice or simply the family's preferred way of saying goodbye.

The circumstances of the death, the condition of the tūpāpaku, preparation requirements and practical considerations will need to be taken into account.

Health New Zealand notes that it can often be possible for someone who has died to remain at home for a period so family and whānau can spend time with them.

A funeral director can help with transportation, preparation and practical guidance so the person can be cared for safely and respectfully.

Ormsby Family Funerals supports family-led and home-based funeral arrangements where appropriate and can discuss what will work best for your whānau.

In some circumstances, Work and Income may be able to provide a Funeral Grant to help with funeral costs.

The Funeral Grant is subject to eligibility criteria, including the financial circumstances of the person who has died and their family or estate.

Reasonable funeral expenses may include costs such as funeral director services, a casket, burial or cremation fees, a death certificate, hearse fees, venue hire, flowers, celebrant or clergy fees and some tangihanga-related expenses.

The maximum Funeral Grant is reviewed from time to time, so families should check the current amount and eligibility requirements directly with Work and Income.

You do not necessarily need to already be receiving a benefit to qualify for assistance.

We can provide an itemised funeral account and help explain the funeral-related information you may need when speaking with Work and Income.

A funeral director does much more than organise the funeral service itself.

Depending on what the family needs, a funeral director may help with:

• transferring the person who has died into their care
• caring for and preparing the person
• embalming where requested
• arranging a viewing
• helping select a casket or urn
• coordinating burial or cremation
• organising the funeral venue
• arranging transport and a hearse
• helping coordinate celebrants or clergy
• assisting with funeral notices
• liaising with cemeteries and crematoriums
• helping organise livestreams, music and photo tributes
• supporting cultural and tangihanga arrangements
• helping families understand relevant paperwork and next steps.
• Answering all or any questions you might have about funerals, the processes and procedures

Health New Zealand notes that families can arrange a funeral themselves, but if a funeral director is used, they can help guide families through the many decisions that need to be made.

Our role is not to take control of the funeral. It is to take care of the practical details, offer support and guidance when you need it, and help your family create a farewell that feels right.