Cost of Service
How much does a funeral cost?
Whether you’re planning a quiet, private farewell, a simple graveside gathering, or a full celebration of life, every farewell is unique.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach – anything goes, and the most meaningful service is one that reflects your loved one and those who knew them.
To help you explore the possibilities, we’ve put together a few example scenarios to illustrate what different types of farewells might look like, along with the associated costs. These examples are simply a guide and can be tailored in any way to suit your wishes, traditions, and budget.
All scenarios include GST and our Professional Services fee as at August 2026.
Pricing is subject to change in line with inflation and supplier cost increases.
Nearest and Dearest – $6,700*
A small circle of loved ones gathered round in a relaxed style, writing or drawing on their loved ones’ casket, sharing stories, playing their favourite music, reflecting on treasured memories….
- Transfer from place of death into our care
- Minimal mortuary care
- Locally made plywood shaped flat lid casket
- Up to 60-minute gathering
- Plain acrylic urn
- Cremation and essential paperwork
- Registration of death and certificate
Simple Cremation – $5,450*
This package provides all necessary services for a simple cremation, including compliance with legal requirements.
- Transfer from place of death into our care
- Simple, locally custom-made cremation casket
- Cremation and essential paperwork
- Plain acrylic urn
- Registration of death and certificate
Classic Ceremony – $13,795
A service can be led by a celebrant, minister, family member, or close friend - someone who helps bring everything together and set the tone for the farewell. This role is often the glue that holds the ceremony together. Family and friends gather to honour the life of a loved one, sharing personal stories and heartfelt messages. Musical tributes, whether performed live or played as a recording, can be a powerful way to express emotion and celebrate their life. A photo tribute set to meaningful music, offers a visual reflection of their memories, milestones, and legacy.
In this example, the ceremony is held in our chapel, but it can also take place at your church, a community hall, or another meaningful location of your choice.
- Transfer from place of death into our care
- Full Mortuary care
- Celebrant or Minister
- Tararua raw pine dee handle casket
- Professional Service fee
- Photographic tribute
- 60 service sheets
- Music selection
- Livestreaming
- Catering for 50 people
- Chapel and Lounge Hire
- Cremation and essential paperwork
- Plain acrylic urn
- Registration of death and certificate
Keeping It Natural – $9,655
A farewell at home or in the garden can offer a calm, familiar setting. Graveside services are a thoughtful choice for a simple, meaningful goodbye also. Family-led, with a natural burial at Clareville Cemetery, the casket may be adorned with handpicked flowers and foliage. An appropriate vehicle of your own can be used to transport your loved one to the cemetery if desired and as a collective, you can fill in your loved one’s plot after they have been interred. This can be a deeply cathartic experience - a final act of love and connection that allows family and friends to take part in the farewell in a meaningful, hands-on way.
You may think that choosing a natural burial would be a more cost-effective option, however in reality, it tends to cost more. This is because the cost of the plot includes several long-term considerations: compost top-ups for three years, a plot that is double the size of a standard one (to allow space for natural tree root growth), and the planting of a young tōtara tree as part of the process, a natural gravemarker and registration of the natural burial. Please also note that an out-of-district fee applies for those who live outside the local area.
The cost to our environment, however, is less.
- Transfer from place of death into our care
- Essential mortuary care (in line with natural burial and only if desired)
- Essential paperwork
- Purchase of plot and interment fees (incl. out of district fee)
- Registration of death and certificate
Professional Services Fee
A Professional Services Fee applies when we are engaged to arrange and conduct any funeral, memorial, or farewell service, along with the disposition of your loved one.
This fee covers the specialised expertise, time, planning, administration, and attention required to ensure every aspect of the arrangements is managed with care, compassion, and professionalism.
Our fixed fee covers everything involved in working with Wairarapa Funeral Services, reflecting the full range of support we offer. This includes meeting with your family to understand your wishes, planning and managing all aspects of the arrangements, and ensuring the appropriate team is there to support you on the day.
It also gives you access to all our resources, guidance from our experienced staff, and 24/7 availability for any urgent needs related to your loved one and the services provided.
While some families arrange certain elements themselves, we always follow up with all service providers involved to make sure everything is in place. Our goal is to ensure your loved one’s farewell runs smoothly and meets your expectations – and ours.
We take the time to sit down with you and provide a
Estimate of Financial Details before proceeding with arrangements.
This includes receiving your instructions regarding:
- Personal care and attention of the deceased
- Embalming and mortuary care
- Obtaining and preparing necessary medical documentation
- Attending to the registration of death
- Provision of funeral home facilities and services
- Further transfers, after-hours services, and payment of disbursements
- Conducting other services as requested
Payment
Unless other arrangements have been made, full payment is due within 5 weeks of the invoice date. Accounts not paid within this period will be considered overdue, and late payment penalties may apply.
We understand that every family’s circumstances are different, and we are proud to be able to accommodate most budgets.
Funeral Grants
Funeral grants are available through WINZ Funeral Grant and ACC Financial Support After Death, and we are happy to talk you through the process and assist where possible.
Please know that we have no control over the decisions or timeframes of these organisations, so we cannot accept grants as a guaranteed form of payment. If a grant is approved, funds will be paid directly to the person(s) who settled the account.
In addition to the above, this also applies to insurance claims and Probate settlements.
Please note that the person who signed our Funeral Services Authority Agreement is legally responsible for payment of the account.