What Happens When Someone Dies

Death by natural causes will require “The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.” This certificate must be completed for every person who dies in New Zealand and it will be used to register the death and to generate “The New Zealand Death Certificate.”
If the GP is unsure of the cause of death, then the police will be called to investigate. This is a legal requirement. The police report the death to the Coroner. It is the Coroner’s role to establish the identity of the person who has died, the date and place of death and the causes and circumstances of the death. A post mortem my be requested to be carried out by a pathologist, usually within two days and involves an internal and external examination of the body. This will be discussed with the family and any cultural or religious needs will be taken into consideration at this time.
If the person is to be cremated the GP will need to sight the person after death and then to complete the “Certificate of Medical Practitioner” according to the New Zealand Cremation Regulations, as well as “The Medical Certificate of Causes of Death.”

The funeral director will arrange to transfer the deceased from the place where the death has occurred to the funeral home. They will then arrange a time suitable to the family to meet and discuss the funeral plans.
The family will be asked to supply information to enable the funeral director to register the death. They will need to know; the full name of the deceased, their birth date and where they were born the occupations and names of the parents of the deceased including the mother’s maiden name, details of all marriages, when and where and to whom, as well as the ages of any living children of the deceased.
In most cases the family will wish to view the deceased after death. The funeral director will discuss embalming procedures with the family. This means that the deceased can be at home or at the funeral home for viewing for several days without the body deteriorating.

The funeral director will then discuss with the family what they wish to do about a funeral service. This can be held almost anywhere that you choose. There is no legal requirement for someone to have a funeral service, but most people have friends or family who wish to acknowledge and honour their lives and to formally say goodbye.
The family will choose a casket and then the funeral director will discuss with the family their wishes regarding; flowers, service sheets, catering and music and anything that the family wish the funeral home to organise on their behalf.
Following the service, the families have choices about when the hearse proceeds to the cemetery or crematorium. These are options your funeral director will discuss with you. It is your family member or friend that you are arranging the funeral for and our role is to support and guide you through the process.