Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in New Zealand
This guide explains what happens after a death in New Zealand, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home to the UK. The information comes from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you need someone to guide you through it, our team is available any time.
Typical timeline
14-21 days
Typical cost
GBP 5,000-12,000
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
New Zealand has a robust coronial system that will take charge quickly. Understanding what that means in practice is the most important thing a UK family can know.
Call 111 immediately. Police and ambulance will attend. A doctor or nurse practitioner must certify the death before anything else can happen. If the death is sudden, unexplained, violent, or the deceased had no treating physician, the police will notify the Coroner on your behalf. This is automatic and unavoidable.
The New Zealand Coroner holds legal authority over the body.
Under the Coroners Act 2006, no funeral preparation, embalming, or movement of the body can take place without the Coroner’s consent. The Coroner investigates the circumstances of death and may order a post-mortem. Once satisfied, the Coroner issues a formal release. Only then can the repatriation process begin.
New Zealand has 16 regional Coroner jurisdictions. If your family member died in Queenstown, Rotorua, or the Hawke’s Bay, the case is handled by the local Coroner for that region. Timelines vary by region and workload. Wellington and Auckland are fastest. Rural regions can be slower.
Contact the British High Commission in Wellington at +64 4 924 2888. There is also a consulate in Auckland. The High Commission will give you a list of funeral directors with international repatriation experience and help you contact family in the UK. They cannot intervene in the Coroner’s process, but they can make representations if there are communication difficulties.
Notify your travel insurer immediately. Young British nationals on working holiday visas are among the most common uninsured or underinsured cases the FCDO handles in New Zealand. If there is no insurance, the costs fall to the family. The FCDO’s New Zealand travel advice page (updated January 2025) specifically warns that repatriation from New Zealand without insurance is expensive.
After the Coroner releases the body
The funeral director takes charge. Embalming is required under UK regulations for repatriation. Zinc-lined coffin preparation follows. The documentation set includes the New Zealand death certificate, Coroner’s release, embalming certificate, and export permission. Processing takes five to fourteen working days after the Coroner acts.
Auckland’s international airport handles human remains freight to the UK via Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand cargo, and Emirates. South Island cases route through Auckland. Direct flight time Auckland to London Heathrow is approximately 26 hours via connecting hub.
On arrival in the UK, the receiving funeral director notifies the coroner. A death investigated by the New Zealand Coroner with shared results typically does not trigger a UK inquest. Families can proceed with funeral arrangements once the receiving funeral director confirms clearance.
For the full process, costs and documentation checklist, see our repatriation from New Zealand guide.
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Call 111 for police and ambulance. A doctor or nurse practitioner must certify the death. In New Zealand, a Coroner must be notified of any sudden, unexplained, or violent death under the Coroners Act 2006. The Coroner has jurisdiction over the body until they release it. Contact your insurer and the FCDO immediately.
Local emergency number: 111
Contact the British Embassy or consulate
Notify the British Embassy in Wellington as soon as possible. They can give you a list of local English-speaking funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
Embassy: +64 4 924 2888
FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in New Zealand will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. They may cover the full cost of repatriation, which can be GBP 5,000-12,000.
New Zealand and Australia are favourite destinations for British working holiday (OE) travellers, many of whom travel without adequate repatriation insurance. The FCDO consistently advises comprehensive travel insurance covering repatriation before departing for New Zealand.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from New Zealand requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- New Zealand Death Certificate
- Coroner's release (if applicable, Coroners Act 2006)
- Embalming certificate
- Permission to transport human remains from New Zealand
- Passport of deceased
Documentation typically takes 5-14 working days to complete.
Official support
British Embassy in Wellington
The embassy can provide information and a list of local funeral directors, but they cannot arrange or pay for repatriation. Contact them early to register the death with consular services.
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Coroner's inquest (New Zealand Coroners Act 2006)
- Long-haul freight logistics from Oceania
- Insurance dispute or uninsured death
- Death in a remote region (Fiordland, Bay of Islands, Queenstown backcountry)
Cost guide
How much does it cost?
| Embalming | GBP 300-600 |
| Zinc-lined coffin | GBP 500-1,000 |
Long-haul freight from New Zealand is the dominant cost factor. Auckland has the strongest cargo connections; deaths in the South Island (Christchurch, Queenstown) require domestic transfer before international freight. Costs are broadly comparable to Australia.
If a post-mortem is required
The New Zealand Coroner has broad jurisdiction under the Coroners Act 2006 and must be notified of any sudden, unnatural, or unexplained death. Post-mortem is ordered at the Coroner's discretion. NZ coroners are generally thorough and the process is well-organised.. Adds 7-21 days. The Coroner must formally release the body before repatriation can proceed. This is the most common cause of extended timelines for UK families.
Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in New Zealand
Repatriation from New Zealand typically takes 14-21 days. The fastest is 10 days with no complications. Complex cases involving a post-mortem or police investigation can take 35+ days.
The typical cost is GBP 5,000-12,000. This covers local funeral director fees, embalming, a zinc-lined coffin, documentation, air freight to the UK, and reception at a UK funeral home. The main variable is air freight, which depends on the destination airport and flight frequency.
Your local funeral director in New Zealand will gather most documents on your behalf. The core documents required are: a local death certificate, an embalming certificate, a freedom from infection certificate, and airline cargo documentation. The full documentation process typically takes 5-14 working days.
Cremation in New Zealand is available. If your loved one is cremated abroad, returning ashes to the UK typically costs .
Please contact our team for guidance on this question. We are available 24 hours a day via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.
Full repatriation guide for New Zealand
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, cost breakdown, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in New Zealand
If local cremation is the right choice for your family, our country guide covers the documentation, airline rules, and costs.
Cremation guideSpeak to our team
We coordinate repatriations from New Zealand every week. If you need someone to take over the arrangements, call us now.
WhatsApp us nowReviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Updated May 2026.
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from New Zealand · Frequently asked questions