A growing number of New Zealand families are being forced to make difficult decisions about how they farewell loved ones as burial and cremation costs continue to rise, with funeral directors calling on councils to do more to ensure every person can be laid to rest with dignity.
A new survey by the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) has found that nearly three-quarters of funeral directors believe councils are not doing enough to ensure every New Zealander can access a dignified burial or cremation regardless of their financial circumstances.
The findings coincide with the Association’s annual review of council cemetery and cremation fees, which are updated each year on 1 July.
While many councils increased burial and cremation fees by between 2 and 4 percent, several districts recorded much larger increases.
Marlborough District Council lifted both burial and ash burial fees by around 8 percent, while Palmerston North City Council increased ash burial costs by almost 10 percent.
The largest increase came from Tauranga City Council, where burial fees rose by 50 percent and ash burial charges increased by 200 percent.
According to FDANZ, local funeral directors in Tauranga had engaged with the council before the changes were introduced but were unable to prevent the significant fee increases.
Across the councils reviewed, the average burial cost now sits at $4,359.
By comparison, the maximum Work and Income Funeral Grant available to eligible families is currently $2,697.43, leaving a gap of more than $1,600 before other funeral costs are even considered.
Funeral directors say increasing cemetery charges are changing the way families approach end-of-life arrangements.
The Association’s survey found many funeral homes are seeing more families:
- choosing cremation instead of burial because it is more affordable
- scaling back funeral services
- seeking financial assistance to meet costs
- delaying payments while trying to secure funding.
The survey suggests that in areas where burial costs have risen significantly, traditional burial is increasingly becoming an option available only to families with greater financial means.
Beyond rising fees, funeral directors also reported concerns about how some council cemetery services are operating.
Members described issues including:
- limited burial times and reduced scheduling flexibility
- difficulties contacting cemetery staff through centralised booking systems
- inconsistent information from council employees
- administrative mistakes involving reserved burial plots
- contractors preparing burial plots that were too small for caskets.
Funeral directors say these issues can create additional distress for grieving whānau during an already emotional time.
The survey also highlighted the financial burden funeral homes are carrying on behalf of councils.
In around 90 percent of cases, councils invoice funeral homes directly rather than families.
However, 80 percent of funeral directors surveyed said they regularly or occasionally pay council cemetery charges before families have settled their funeral accounts.
The Association argues this effectively leaves funeral businesses financing council services while carrying the financial risk if payments are delayed.
Funeral directors say councils should work more closely with both the funeral industry and local communities when reviewing cemetery fees and services.
They believe greater consultation could help councils better understand the realities facing grieving families and the importance of maintaining accessible burial and cremation options.
The Association also says cemetery services differ from many other council services because they are essential rather than discretionary, with every family eventually needing to make end-of-life arrangements.
The findings raise broader questions about affordability, equity and access to culturally appropriate end-of-life services.
For many Māori whānau, burial on ancestral whenua or in urupā carries deep cultural, spiritual and whakapapa significance. Rising burial costs, alongside increasing financial pressures facing households, may make those wishes harder to fulfil for some families.
With little indication that the Government intends to significantly increase the Work and Income Funeral Grant, the Funeral Directors Association is urging councils to recognise their role in ensuring all New Zealanders can access dignified funeral services regardless of their financial situation.
As councils continue to balance rising operational costs with community expectations, funeral directors say affordability must remain at the centre of decisions affecting one of life’s most universal experiences.
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