Find a Funeral Director

FAQs

Your best option would be to find a funeral home that is willing to take you on or let you shadow while you gain experience. Please contact your local Funeral Director to register your interest and find out more about a career in the Funeral Industry. You can also find a list of our current vacancies here

NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing

The Open Polytechnic NZ offers the NZ Diploma in Funeral Directing (Level 5). This online course provides individuals who are employed as a funeral director/funeral assistant in the funeral services industry, a credential that will support their employment opportunities. For more information visit the Open Polytechnic NZ website. 

Please call 0800 332 693 or email info@thefuneraltrust.co.nz 

In addition to the normal processes around a funeral, repatriation involves other requirements and can vary depending on the country involved. Repatriation can be complicated and frustrating, especially during times of grief. The best thing to do is contact your local FDANZ funeral director for assistance. They will be able to walk you through the process and ensure all legal requirements are met. 

Generally the answer is no, unless the land has previously been used as a burial ground. According to the Burial & Cremation Act of 1964, "any body may be buried in any private burial place used for burials before the date of the commencement of this Act; but no burial shall be made without the previous sanction of a District Court Judge, or, if within a city or part of a district of a territorial authority which was formerly a city or borough or part of a city or borough, without the additional sanction of the mayor or 2 members of the governing body of the territorial authority."

There are several options, depending on the funeral home in question. If the funeral home is a FDANZ member, you can submit you complaint directly to us by following the process detailed here. If they are not a FDANZ member, you can submit your complaint to the local council, as funeral homes are governed under the Health & Burials Act of 1946. Depending on the seriousness of the matter, you may also want to consider pursuing legal action. 

The funeral grant available through WINZ will contribute to funeral costs for families meeting their income criteria. This grant will not cover the entire cost of a funeral.

ACC will contribute to the cost of a funeral if the death has been as the result of an accident.

Veterans' Affairs New Zealand will cover funeral costs for eligible veterans.