May 06, 2022
Funeral costs bury whānau
The Funeral Directors Association says funerals and burials are now unaffordable for many low income whānau.
Chief executive Gilianne Boyes says the $2200 grant from Work and Income hasn’t increased for 20 years, and comes nowhere near the $7900 cost of the average funeral, or even the average plot cost of $3500.
Many whānau are forced to cremate their loved one without a funeral, or borrow from money lenders at high interest rates.
She says specialist Māori and Pasifika funeral directors are backing the push to get the grant increased.
“Many of the funerals they do rely on the Work and Income funeral grant and they are really keen because they are talking daily with families who are maybe ashamed or embarrassed they can’t farewell their loved one in the way they would really like to,” Ms Boyes says.
Budget advisors tell her funerals are often an unexpected expense that pushes a family over the edge, and she’s also heard of mental health problems from unresolved grief.