In Aotearoa it is perfectly legal and achievable for any individual or group to manage all aspects of the funeral without employing the services of a funeral professional. This includes from the moment of death up to final disposition of the body, and all times in between. In a home funeral the deceased is kept at home, where family take care of the body and have autonomy as leaders of the funeral process. A home funeral allows care of the deceased to be the domain of the community, giving them space to engage fully with the ritual. Home funerals are said to impact positively on the experience of grief, giving intimacy to emotions throughout the entire process.

 

Consider this as akin to arranging wedding plans, or a big birthday celebration. Yes, there is a lot to do but there is also sound information out there to resource yourself with and plenty of support once you know where to find it. Just like a wedding, the key is in being prepared by planning ahead as a team. Of course, you can also opt for a blended arrangement whereby a funeral director organises some aspects of the funeral and you do the rest. How much is entirely up to you. 

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I have collated a list of links to informative resources relevant to arranging a home led funeral in Aotearoa. Please feel free to cherry-pick through these websites. I hope this will be useful in empowering you to decide if a home-led funeral is the right option is for you. To access the file please submit your email address in the subscriptions box on the home page.

 

 And please do feel free to email any questions, or share your home funeral story.