Cremation and ashes transport
Cremation in New Zealand and bringing ashes home
For some families, arranging cremation locally and carrying ashes home is the right choice, and it can be quicker than full repatriation. This page sets out what New Zealand requires, and what to check before you decide.
Cremation in New Zealand
Can you cremate someone in New Zealand?
Cremation can proceed once the coroner releases the body and any post-mortem is complete. Ashes can be carried as hand luggage: Air New Zealand asks for a death certificate and a cremation certificate (name, place and date of cremation, and that the container holds only ashes). No New Zealand export permit for ashes appears in the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 or the Cremation Regulations 1973 (checked 6 Oct 2026).
Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.
What affects the cost from New Zealand
We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For New Zealand the things that move it are:
- Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
- Whether an investigation must conclude before release
- Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped
Contact us with the details and we will give you a figure for your case. Source: FCDO guidance and funeral industry data
Considering full repatriation instead?
Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full New Zealand guide sets out that process.
Full repatriation guide for New ZealandOfficial lists for New Zealand
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from New Zealand
Talk to us about cremation in New Zealand
We can advise on whether cremation abroad is the right choice for your family. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.
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