What to do when someone dies in New Zealand: a step-by-step checklist

Losing someone is overwhelming, and it often comes with a long list of things that suddenly need doing. This guide walks through what actually has to happen, in roughly the order it happens, so you can take it one step at a time.

In the first few hours

If the death was expected — for example, in a hospital, hospice, or rest home — the staff will guide you, and a doctor will issue the medical certificate of cause of death. You don't need to rush.

If someone dies at home and the death was expected, call their doctor or the hospice nurse. They will come to confirm the death and complete the certificate.

If the death was sudden, unexpected, or you're not sure what happened, call 111. The death may be referred to the Coroner, who decides whether further investigation is needed before the person can be released to a funeral director.

There is no legal need to move the person immediately. It's okay to sit with them for a while.

In the first day or two

• Choose a funeral director. They do far more than run the service — they collect and care for the person, help with paperwork, and register the death with Births, Deaths & Marriages. You can compare local options in our funeral directors directory.
• Find any funeral or end-of-life wishes. Some people record these in their will, a pre-paid funeral plan, or a letter. Check before making decisions that can't be undone, like burial versus cremation.
• Tell close family and friends. You don't have to tell everyone yourself — ask one or two people to help spread the news.

In the first week

• Decide on the funeral or tangihanga. There's no single right way. It can be religious or not, large or small, immediate or delayed.
• Write and publish a death notice. This lets the wider community know and is how people find out about the service. See our guide on how to write a death notice, or submit one to Afterword.
• Register the death. In New Zealand the funeral director usually does this for you within three working days. Once registered, you can order the official death certificate you'll need for estate matters.

In the weeks that follow

This is the estate-administration stage, and it's where many people feel unsure.

• Find the will. It names the executor — the person responsible for carrying out the deceased's wishes and settling the estate. If there is no will, the estate is distributed under the Administration Act's intestacy rules.
• Work out whether you need probate. If the person owned significant assets (such as a house or sizeable bank balances) in their sole name, you'll likely need a grant of probate before those assets can be dealt with. We explain this in what is probate in New Zealand.
• Notify the relevant organisations — banks, KiwiSaver provider, insurers, IRD, Work and Income, and any utilities or subscriptions.
• Look after yourself. Grief is not a checklist. Lean on the people around you, and consider talking to your GP or a support service if you're struggling.

You don't have to do it all at once

Very little of this needs to happen in a single day. Funeral directors, and where needed a lawyer, are there to carry the load with you. If you'd like help understanding the estate side, our probate help page is a good next step.