Nz Herald Obituary Notices (2024)

FAQs

How to find death notices in New Zealand? ›

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.

Get a copy of a will from the High Court

The High Court only receives a copy of a will when an application of probate is filed. A will becomes a public record when an application for probate is filed with the High Court, which means anyone may look at a will or ask for a copy.

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.

New Zealand registered historic birth, death and marriage data is available to search online at https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz, where associated printouts and certificates can be ordered for the following: Births that occurred at least 100 years ago.

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.

Publishing it in local or smaller metropolitan newspapers costs around $60 to start. Large metropolitan newspapers charge anywhere from $263 to several thousands of dollars. Cheaper alternatives to publishing in the newspaper include online-only newspapers, memorial websites and social media.

Who typically writes an 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.

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

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."

Funeral home records vary in format and content, but they can all be valuable for determining someone's death date. Check genealogical and historical societies; state, county, and local libraries; and municipal archives for possible holdings.