Support Services
Coronial Services
The Coronial Services of New Zealand serves the community through investigating circumstances and causes of death in a respectful and professional manner. The findings of these investigations will be used to make recommendations for the improvement of public safety and to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.
This Website has been designed to help you understand the work of a Coroner, the operation of the Coronial Services Unit and the processes involved during an inquest. It contains Frequently Asked Questions, provides links to support agencies that can help you through the often confusing and emotional process, and advice on how to find out what your rights and entitlements are. (Taken from justice.govt.nz/coroners).
WINZ - Funeral Grant
A Funeral Grant is a non-taxable lump sum payment that provides assistance towards a person’s funeral expenses. The Funeral Grant helps people with actual and reasonable funeral costs only and is not designed to cover the entire funeral expenses.
A Funeral Grant is income and asset tested. The test depends on whether the deceased has a surviving partner or dependent child or if the deceased is a child. (Taken from workandincome.govt.nz). For more information click here.
NZ Police - Iwi Liaison Officers
The Iwi Liaison Officers of the NZ Police have been trained by Māori SIDS on the correct proceedures of attending a SIDS event and are a point of contact for Māori whānau.
SANDS - Stillbirth and Newborn Death Support
Sands groups around New Zealand are made up of parents helping to care for other bereaved parents, whānau and friends. They promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby in pregnancy, at or soon after birth or due to medical termination, and other forms of reproductive loss.
Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand
The Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) is an association representing the majority of the funeral directing companies in New Zealand - a group of caring professionals who are committed to ensuring that the families they serve are receiving high quality service. Its members arrange and direct over 80% of all funerals in New Zealand (taken from funeralsnewzealand.co.nz).
Skylight
Skylight provide unique support to children, young people and their families/whanau through change, loss, trauma and grief - whatever the cause (taken from skylight.org.nz).
Kidsline
0800 Kidsline is New Zealand's original telephone support line for kids. You can call free from anywhere in New Zealand or on your mobile phone to 0800 KIDSLINE (0800 543 754) between 4 - 6pm weekdays (taken from kidsline.org.nz).
Miscarriage Support Auckland
Miscarriage Support are a team of volunteers of various ages who have all experienced the loss of our own babies and would like to provide emotional support and information for women and their families during and after miscarriage and subsequent pregnancies (taken from miscarriagesupport.org.nz).
Department of Internal Affairs
Anyone - not just a funeral director - can organise the burial or cremation of the deceased. If you want to find out more information, there is a brochure available on the Department of Internal Affairs website which informs the reader about what must be done before a deceased is buried or cremated in New Zealand or transported to another country (taken from justice.govt.nz/coroners).
SIDS (NZ)
Established in 1994 to provide services for families and communities who have been affected by SIDS (Cot Death), SIDS New Zealand Incorporated is a national organisation of parents, families and friends of children who have died suddenly and/or unexpectedly of any cause including SIDS (taken from sids.org.nz).
The Lost Ones
This site was created because of the limited support and resources that are available here in New Zealand for people who have suffered from or who are still suffering from now, the loss of a child through Miscarriage, Stillbirth or SIDS (taken from sands.org.nz).
