Reasonable funeral expenses

MSD must determine whether a funeral cost is a reasonable funeral expense before it can be included in the Funeral Grant assessment.

MSD may determine any cost to be reasonable if it is:

• related to the proper disposal of the body
• associated with tikanga practices related to tangihanga
• related to any service or ceremony including but not limited to:
  • cultural, spiritual, or religious practices
  • other customs in respect or commemoration of the person who has died

If a cost does not fit into one of the above categories, MSD must still determine if it is reasonable. This is done on a case-by-case basis, by taking into account whether the cost was appropriate for the ceremony that was held in respect of the deceased person.

Common types of reasonable funeral expenses may include:

• any professional services fees charged by a funeral director
• cost of a casket, coffin or burial shroud
• hearse fees
• burial fees (including plot and interment)
• cremation fees (including water cremation)
• food including kai (food) for a tangihanga
• ministers, celebrant or clergy fees
• flowers
• a pictorial tribute or slideshow

Costs such as alcohol are generally not considered reasonable, though may be determined to be reasonable on a case-by-case basis when considering individual circumstances.

If MSD staff are unsure if a funeral cost is reasonable, they can contact Helpline for advice.

Note if it cannot be determined that a funeral cost is reasonable, MSD may exercise discretion to consider it to be reasonable and include it in the Funeral Grant assessment.

Costs associated with moving the deceased person's body to or from New Zealand may be included in the Funeral Grant assessment if the cost is determined to be reasonable.

Note the deceased person must have been ordinarily resident in New Zealand when they died.