Nz Herald Obituary Notices (2024)

FAQs

How can I find out if someone has died in NZ? ›

If you want information about someone who has died, you can order a death certificate. If you know the deceased's full name and the year you think they died, you could order a death certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriage (BDM). All deaths in New Zealand must be registered with BDM.

An obituary is more personal and is a form of a tribute to the deceased. Unlike a death notice that has general information like the name and date of death, obituaries have a personal touch and are usually referred to as a small biography.

Things to do in the first days after someone dies

Arrange for a death notice in the local or national newspaper, or social media. Register the death within 3 days of the burial or cremation. Before the body is buried or cremated, get a medical certificate or Coroner's Authorisation.

Most newspapers will have links on their websites directing people to submit a paid death notice, usually under the heading “Obituaries” or “Obits.” While some newspapers manage their own obituary submission and management processes, many newspapers work with the obituary and death notice website Legacy.com.

New Zealand birth, death, marriage, civil union and name change certificates are public records. In most cases, they can be ordered by anyone.

The family might not have a service, so they felt no need for an obituary, as obituaries are often used to provide information on the funeral. The family may have disagreements about what to include in the obituary.

An obituary is written to tell the story of your loved one. These will often be in the funeral program. There will even be a part of the funeral where the obituary will be silently read by everyone in attendance at the funeral. It is something you and your family should be patient with when you are writing it.

Obituary Example: No Funeral or Memorial. [Full name] sadly passed away on [date of death] at their home in [place of passing]. They always spread joy and happiness wherever they went. As per [first name]'s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held.

Having obtained probate or letters of administration, an executor or administrator will typically set up an account called “the estate of [deceased's name]”. The bank will then transfer funds from the deceased customer's accounts to the estate account before closing the individual's accounts.

When someone dies suddenly in NZ? ›

If the death was unexpected, suspicious or the cause of death cannot be determined, the rest home may call the Police who act as the Coroner's agent. As the grieving family, your first call should be to a Funeral Director who can talk you through the next stages.

The cost of a newspaper obituary depends on the size of the newspaper's circulation, whether there's a photo, the number of days it will run, and the size of the obituary. Small towns may charge $50, but on average expect to pay at least $250 for the typical short obituary.

While there are no rules when it comes to who writes the obituary, they're typically written by family members or close friends. When a loved one passes, the family usually decides who will write it based on their relationship to the deceased or writing ability.

Who can verify that a person is dead? "Medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, enrolled nurses, midwives, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and intensive care paramedics are authorised by the Chief Coroner to verify death."

www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ and go to Simple Search, and enter the Name of the person whose Will/Probate you want to find. This will list all the articles that has the persons name in that you are searching that are held at Archives N.Z.

You can search and view records and order historical certificates online.

Order in person

You can order certificates in person in Auckland, Manukau, Wellington or Christchurch. You'll need photo ID. To save time, book an appointment online before you visit a BDM office.