What to Do When Someone Dies in New Zealand: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Verification and the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (HP4720)

   Before your family member's body can be buried or cremated, a doctor or nurse practitioner must certify the cause of death, or the death must be cleared by the Coroner [1][2]:

   • Expected death in a hospital, hospice, rest home, or at home: When a person dies in a hospital, hospice, or aged-care facility, the medical staff on duty arrange for a doctor or nurse practitioner to examine the body and complete the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (Form HP4720) via the Ministry of Health Death Documents system [1][2]. If an expected death occurs at home, call the person's general practitioner (GP) or palliative/hospice care team [2][3]. In New Zealand, there is no legal requirement to move the body immediately after a natural death, so family and whānau may take time before a funeral director transfers the deceased [2][3].
   • Sudden, unexpected, or accidental death outside a hospital: If the death is sudden, unexplained, accidental, or occurs in a public place, or if a doctor cannot determine the cause of death, call 111 immediately [2][3]. New Zealand Police will attend and report the death to the Duty Coroner through the National Initial Investigation Office (NIIO, phone: 0800 266 800) of Coronial Services of New Zealand [1][2]. When a death is referred to the Coroner, a standard HP4720 certificate is not issued; instead, the Coroner authorizes transfer to a mortuary, determines whether a post-mortem examination or inquiry is needed, and issues the Coroner's Authorization for Release of the Body so funeral arrangements can proceed [1][2].
2. 2

   Check Pre-Arrangements and Appoint a Funeral Director

   Before entering into a funeral contract, check your family member's paperwork for a prepaid funeral plan or trust, funeral insurance policy, or written wishes regarding burial, cremation, or tangihanga [2][3].

   • Appointing a funeral director: While New Zealand law permits families to manage a burial or cremation directly if they meet all local council cemetery and health regulations, most families appoint a professional funeral director to care for the deceased, obtain cremation medical referee approval (Form AB and Cremation Permission Form B where cremation is chosen), and file the death registration [1][4]. You can locate an accredited provider adhering to an industry code of ethics and transparent cost estimates through the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (phone: +64 4 473 7475; email: [email protected]) [4]. Clarvia provides directory information for orientation only and does not endorse, recommend, or rank individual funeral providers.
   • Statutory burial and cremation requirements: A burial or cremation cannot take place until either the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (HP4720) or the Coroner's authorization has been issued, and for cremations, a Medical Referee has signed the permission to cremate [1][2].
3. 3

   Register the Death with Births, Deaths and Marriages (DIA) Within 3 Working Days

   Under the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act, every death in New Zealand must be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM, part of the Department of Internal Affairs, phone: 0800 22 52 52 from New Zealand or +64 9 339 0852 from overseas) [1]:

   • Statutory 3-working-day deadline: The death must be registered within 3 working days after the burial or cremation of the body [1]. If you appoint a funeral director, they normally collect the demographic details from the family and submit the Death Registration (Form BDM 28) online to Births, Deaths and Marriages on your behalf [1]. If the family is managing the burial or cremation without a funeral director, the person in charge of the disposal must file the registration directly within 3 working days [1].
   • Official Death Certificates and Te Hokinga ā-Wairua: Order an official New Zealand Death Certificate through your funeral director or directly from Births, Deaths and Marriages, as banks, insurers, KiwiSaver providers, and the High Court require it for estate administration [1][2]. When registering the death, you can also use the government's Te Hokinga ā-Wairua End of Life Service on New Zealand Government (govt.nz) to coordinate notifications across public agencies (If a New Zealand citizen dies overseas, the death is registered locally abroad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade SafeTravel consular team at +64 4 439 8000 can assist the family) [2][3].
4. 4

   Claim Statutory Funeral Grants, Work and Income Support, and ACC Benefits

   Depending on your household income, assets, and the cause of death, two main government bodies provide funeral grants and survivor entitlements [5][6]:

   • Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development - MSD): Contact Work and Income (general phone: 0800 559 009; NZ Superannuation / Senior Services phone: 0800 552 002) to report the death if your family member received New Zealand Superannuation, a Veteran's Pension, or a main benefit [5][6]. If the deceased's estate and surviving partner have limited income and assets, you can apply to Work and Income for a means-tested Funeral Grant to help toward necessary funeral costs, and surviving partners or caregivers of dependent children may qualify for continuation payments or survivor assistance [5][6].
   • Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) accidental death benefits: If your family member died as the result of an accident or injury covered by ACC, contact ACC (phone: 0800 101 996) to claim the statutory ACC Funeral Grant (which is not means-tested), the one-off Survivor's Grant for an eligible partner, child, or other dependant, and weekly compensation for surviving dependants [2][5].
5. 5

   Notify Banks, KiwiSaver, Inland Revenue (IRD), and Apply for High Court Probate

   To administer your family member's financial affairs, tax obligations, and estate [6][7]:

   • Small estates vs. High Court Probate or Letters of Administration: Locate the original will [3][6]. Under Section 65 of the Administration Act 1969, if the deceased held sole assets (such as a bank account, KiwiSaver account, or shares) exceeding $15,000 in any single institution, or owned real property in their sole name, the financial institution or Land Information New Zealand will require High Court authority before releasing or transferring the asset [6]. If there is a valid will, the named executor applies to the High Court Probate Registry (centralized in Wellington, Ministry of Justice phone: 0800 268 787) for a Grant of Probate; if there is no will, the entitled next of kin applies for Letters of Administration [6].
   • Notifying banks, KiwiSaver, and insurers: Provide certified copies of the Death Certificate (and Probate or Letters of Administration where required, or a small-estate statutory declaration for balances of $15,000 or less) to banks, life insurers, and the deceased's KiwiSaver scheme provider (as KiwiSaver balances do not pass by survivorship and are paid to the estate or personal representative) [6].
   • Notifying Inland Revenue (IRD): Notify Inland Revenue (phone: 0800 227 774 from New Zealand or +64 4 978 0779 from overseas, or via myIR) of the date of death and the details of the executor or administrator [7]. Inland Revenue will update the person's tax account, stop any Working for Families or child support payments, finalize individual income tax up to the date of death (including small tax refunds claimed via Form IR625 where there is no probate), and issue a new IRD number if a continuing estate tax return (Form IR6) is required [7].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Registering a death and ordering a death certificate — New Zealand Government (govt.nz)
2. [2]
   First steps when someone dies - Te Hokinga ā-Wairua End of Life Service — New Zealand Government (services.govt.nz)
3. [3]
   What to do when someone dies in New Zealand — New Zealand Government (govt.nz)
4. [4]
   Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) Directory — Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand
5. [5]
   Funeral Grant — Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development)
6. [6]
   Sorting out the estate and applying for probate — New Zealand Government (govt.nz)
7. [7]
   Managing the tax affairs of someone who has died — Inland Revenue (IRD)