Funeral directors say soaring council burial costs leave low-income families struggling to pay

Reporter·NZ Herald·21 Jul, 2026 12:20 AM2 mins to read‌A survey of funeral directors has found grieving families are under increasing cost pressures, leading to a call for councils to do more to support "dignity in death". Photo / 123rfCouncils aren’t doing enough to support “dignity in death”, with one North Island city tripling ash burial prices and hiking regular burial costs by half, funeral directors say. The Funeral Directors’ Association of New Zealand survey found three-quarters of members thought councils were failing to ensure all Kiwis were buried