Preplan & Prepay - Repatriation - Compassionate Airfares
Preplan & Prepay
Having your funeral service wishes recorded in advance and/or prepaying for your funeral, means that your wishes will be carried out and your family spared unnecessary worry about the arrangements and costs at a sad and often difficult time.
Recording your wishes is the best way to be proactive in regard to how you wish to be remembered and removes uncertainty in relation to the many questions left to those who organise the funeral. You can choose as much or as little detail as you like; such as, do you wish to be buried or cremated? Do have a particular celebrant or minister in mind to conduct the service? Do you have a venue or setting you wish for your service? Are there any readings, music or specific details that you wish to be carried out on your behalf and thereby fulfilling your wishes? Every little bit you decide on and document helps your family to organise a funeral befitting of you in your absence.
PREPLANNING
Whether you need to plan for now or are just thinking about the future, we can meet with you at our place or yours and provide you with all of the important information with regards to planning a funeral. We offer you a free no obligation estimate of cost and record your wishes which will be kept on file for future reference. You can change your plan at any time. To make a start, call us anytime for a chat.
PREPAYMENT
A Funeral Trust plan allows you to set money aside, in trust, for your final farewell or for that of a loved one.
Prepaying towards a funeral means when the time comes loved ones can gather together, support one another, and remember and celebrate a life, without the responsibility of making difficult choices in very emotionalcircumstances.
For more information visit The Funeral Trust website or contact us.
Repatriation - Worldwide or Within New Zealand
Repatriation is returning home of the body, remains or ashes of someone who has died outside of their country or their normal place of residence. This can be national or international. In addition to the normal processes involved in a funeral, there are mandatory requirements to comply with New Zealand or another countries when sending or receiving remains or ashes.
INTERNATIONAL
- Transportation of the Casket
In the case of a full body repatriation a death certificate, evidence that the body does not have a notifiable disease, a certificate of embalming, and the necessary export and import clearance for New Zealand and/or the country of destination.
The casket be hermetically sealed. This requirement differs from country to country. We will advise you of current requirements.
Because of the required processes, a repatriation to or from New Zealand can take up to 10 working days.
It is can be an expensive and time consuming process.
For who have died overseas and wish to be repatriated to New Zealand, most of the cost can often be covered by their travel insurance policy. Before proceeding, check with the travel insurance provider.
DOMESTIC REPATRIATION
- Transportation of the Casket
Interisland repatriations are normally done by air transport with a prerequisite that the body be embalmed in most cases the casket will be consigned from funeral director to funeral director.
Families can also transport the casket themselves via road and ferry.
TRANSPORTING ASHES
- international and domestic
Ashes can be taken by a family member or friend. If travelling by air you do have the option of taking them yourself as a carry-on item however you will require a Certificate of Cremation New Zealand Post will not accept ashes from the general public for courier this, must be done by a funeral director as there is documentation that is required.
If you wish to send them by courier, sending from funeral director to funeral director is the recommended method. The reason being, courier companies require someone to be present and willing to sign for and accept the ashes upon delivery.
For more information or advice please contact us - 03 693 8788
Compassionate Airfares
Compassionate airfares maybe available through Air New Zealand to immediate family members needing to attend the funeral service only within New Zealand. If travelling internationally assistance only applies to change fees which are fees that apply to changing an existing booking and fare.
Applications are mostly made after travelling once you have supplied the necessary documentation.
Air New Zealand now require you to acquire prior approval by phone before applying for compassionate fares to prevent the application of being applied to cut rate fares. You can phone Air New Zealand with your booking or ticket reference number on 0800 733 8637 and their staff will advise you if there is likely to be a refund or not.
If you are eligible for a refund either full or partial, you will fill in the form provided by us or by Air New Zealand and fax or mail it to Air New Zealand refunds team for processing.
At your request we will then forward the necessary form to Air New Zealand verifying the death.
Please feel free to ask us for further information.