Who is responsible for registering a death in NZ?
In New Zealand, the person who decides how the body is disposed of, or who disposes of it, must notify Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) of the death. They must do so no later than 3 working days after the burial or cremation. If you use a funeral director, they register the death for you. Registering is free, and only a death certificate costs money.
Registering a death is the legal step that puts the death on the official record. It is different from the doctor's certificate that states the cause of death, and different again from telling banks, Inland Revenue and Work and Income. The rule comes from the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021 (sections 39 and 40, as at 6 June 2026), which says the notification must be made as soon as practicable and no later than 3 working days after the body is disposed of (Legislation: BDMRR Act 2021). The notification must also be made before a body is removed from New Zealand. Families who use a funeral director do not usually fill in the form themselves, because the director does it as part of arranging the funeral.
Four things that people often mix up
| Step | Who does it | What it is | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause-of-death certificate | A doctor or nurse practitioner (or a coroner's authorisation after a sudden death) | Medical statement of how the person died. It is needed before burial or cremation. | Arranged by the doctor or funeral director |
| Registration of the death | The funeral director, or the person arranging disposal | Notification to BDM so the death is recorded | Free |
| Death certificate | Whoever orders it | The official copy of the record, ordered from BDM | $35 official, $26 printout |
| Notifying agencies | Family or the executor | Telling banks, IR, Work and Income, insurers and others | Varies by agency |
A body may not be buried or cremated without a cause-of-death certificate or a coroner's authorisation (Burial and Cremation Act 1964 s 46AA). That is why the doctor's certificate comes first. A doctor or nurse practitioner also gives BDM a preliminary notice within 3 working days of issuing the certificate. This is separate from the family's notification, so do not assume it replaces it.
What the deadline means
The deadline runs from disposal, not from the date of death. Under the Act it is 3 working days after the body is disposed of. govt.nz's "what to do" page says "within 3 days" in one place, but the Act and govt.nz's own registering page say working days, so go by working days (govt.nz: Registering a death). If a funeral is delayed, for example by a coroner's inquiry, the clock does not start until disposal.
How a funeral director registers the death
When you use a funeral director, registration is part of the work. FDANZ lists "registration of the death" among the things covered by a funeral director's professional services fee (FDANZ: Financial matters). In practice:
- You or the next of kin meet the funeral director, who arranges the doctor's certificate or coroner's paperwork.
- The director submits the notification to BDM.
- You do not pay BDM a registration fee, because registering is free.
- You order any certificates you need afterwards.
Ask the director to confirm in writing that the death has been registered, and keep that confirmation with the other papers.
How to register a death without a funeral director
Some families arrange a burial or cremation themselves, with a celebrant or a council cemetery. In that case the person arranging disposal registers the death. govt.nz says to use the form "Notification of death for registration BDM 28" together with the cause-of-death certificate or the coroner's authorisation (govt.nz: Registering a death).
- Get the cause-of-death certificate from the doctor or nurse practitioner, or the coroner's authorisation.
- Arrange the burial or cremation. A council cemetery or crematorium will want the paperwork first; see burial and cremation costs.
- Complete form BDM 28.
- Send it to BDM no later than 3 working days after disposal.
- Keep a copy and note the date you sent it.
Registering yourself takes planning, so tell the cemetery or crematorium who is responsible before the day.
Getting a death certificate
A death certificate is optional but most people need one, because banks and insurers usually ask for it. The official New Zealand certificate costs $35 and a printout, which is not an official copy, costs $26. Post within New Zealand is free and courier costs $7. Printouts arrive by email in about 8 working days, and govt.nz says most people receive a certificate in 1 to 2 weeks (govt.nz: Get a death certificate). govt.nz suggests not ordering until after the funeral. You can order online, by post using form BDM93D, by phone, or in person with photo ID. The death must have happened in New Zealand. Our death certificate guide goes through ordering in more detail. Funeral directors may sell certificates too; FDANZ lists $40, which is a few dollars above the government fee.
After the death is registered
Registration does not tell anyone else. These are separate jobs, listed in who to notify after a death:
- myTrove is a free service for families that tells many participating organisations at once, including banks, KiwiSaver providers and insurers. It can be started before the death is registered, and you do not need a New Zealand death certificate to use it (myTrove).
- Inland Revenue needs written proof that you can act for the estate, or its declaration form IR625, and its phone number is 0800 227 774 (Inland Revenue: Let us know someone has died).
- Work and Income should be told if the person received a benefit or NZ Super.
Money matters can start before you have a certificate. Banks can release money from the person's account to pay for the funeral without waiting for probate; see paying funeral costs from the estate.
If you cannot afford the funeral
Registration costs nothing, but the funeral will. The Work and Income Funeral Grant is up to $2,697.43 as at 1 April 2026 and depends on a means test; see the Funeral Grant guide and what to do if you cannot afford a funeral. If the person died at home, death at home explains the first calls to make.
Common questions
Is registering a death the same as getting a death certificate? No. Registration records the death. A certificate is a paid copy of that record.
Who is "responsible" if several relatives disagree? The Act names the person deciding how the body is disposed of or who disposes of it. Community Law says the executor, or the person lawfully in control of the body, is entitled to make the final decision (Community Law). If you are unsure, ask the funeral director to explain who has signed.
What if the death happened overseas? Contact the nearest New Zealand embassy or MFAT; the family pays the costs. This page covers deaths in New Zealand only.
General information, not legal advice. For anything contested, ask a lawyer or your local Community Law centre.
Adviser's view
A funeral director normally registers the death for you, and Births, Deaths and Marriages charges nothing for registration. If you arrange the burial or cremation yourself, the person deciding how the body is disposed of or carrying it out must notify Births, Deaths and Marriages within 3 working days of disposal. A death certificate is a separate, paid step.
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Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Registering a Death NZ: Who Does It and How. www.quotehub.co.nz/guides/when-someone-dies/registering-a-death-nz. Updated 2026-10-20.
References
- Legislation: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021
- govt.nz: Registering a death
- govt.nz: Get a death certificate
- govt.nz: What to do when someone dies
- Legislation: Burial and Cremation Act 1964
- FDANZ: Financial matters
- Inland Revenue: Let us know someone has died
- myTrove
- Community Law: Funerals and tangihanga
- Work and Income: Funeral Grant
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