Funeral Costs

Some funeral costs are fixed and quantifiable in advance. Others depend on circumstances such as location, timing, and factors of personal choice, so this is just a guide.

Living Legacies consultation fee is $100 per hour, plus mileage at IRD rates and any other expenses incurred. For some families one hour may be enough and they can go ahead and arrange a funeral themselves. Others may prefer more ongoing support over days or weeks.

Living Legacies workshops are $50 per person or $80 per couple, plus travel expenses if outside Motueka.

A Living Legacies pine coffin (untreated, unlined, undecorated) is currently $950. Please see the Coffins page for details.

The cost of natural burials varies from council to council and is generally around $2500 – $5000. Contact your local provider for details in advance.

The cost of cremations also varies between providers and is generally around $500 – $1000. Contact your local cremation provider for details in advance.

​Other fixed costs may include: a Doctor’s Certificate of Causes of Death, a Death Certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages, and legal fees for administration of the deceased’s estate.

Optional costs can include:

• Funeral venue hire
• Funeral celebrant
• Funeral catering
• Flowers
• Hearse
• Death Notices in newspapers
• Live streaming of the funeral
• Online obituaries