Questions often asked
The answer is both simple and complex.
The simple answer is that there are ‘Online’ cremation providers, such as
www.kiwicremation.co.nz who can look after the practical things through a grant available from WINZ and you can pay nothing!
Currently, the WINZ grant is just over $2,500. (It covers)
• Collecting the deceased
• Uplifting medical certificates for death registration and cremation
• Submitting documents to the crematorium medical referee for signing
• Casket ‘basic’ often cardboard.
• Booking of and transportation to the crematorium
• Cremation fee
The downside is that it is all done online and does not include a gathering of any sort to give families a chance to say goodbye.
The complex answer comes about when you want a gathering to say farewell,
which is important for the process of ‘good grieving’.
In these circumstances, we, Kapiti Coast Funeral Home can help plan a low-cost gathering.
It could include a small amount of funds available plus cremation as above.
Things to be considered to help keep costs down include:
VENUE; Use of club you belong to or have a gathering at home.
REFRESHMENTS; at your own place ask friends to ‘bring a plate’ (food)
FLOWERS; from a supermarket or your garden or flowers friends have sent you.
PHOTO TRIBUTE; Scanning your own photos and creating yourself, using your own TV and your laptop can save on AV equipment.
SERVICE SHEET; printed at a print shop may help but most of the costs are in the design work and layout, so if you can do this yourself, this saves money.
CELEBRANT; all have fees but in special circumstances, some will not charge.
Death without debt is achievable, it just needs knowledge and a helping hand!
Andrew Malcolm – www.kapiticoastfuneralhome.co.nz
