Repatriation to New Zealand Guide
Losing a family member is heartbreaking. Losing them while they are overseas adds a layer of complexity and stress that few people are prepared for.
If you are currently navigating this difficult situation, please take a deep breath. You are not alone. Every week, New Zealand funeral directors help families bring their loved ones home from every corner of the globe—from the Pacific Islands to Europe and beyond.
Whether you need to bring a body back for a traditional tangi, or you are considering a local cremation overseas before returning with the ashes, this guide will walk you through every step of the process.
If you’re dealing with repatriation to or from other countries, our International Repatriation guide explains the step‑by‑step process and cost drivers. Alternatively, if the family chooses cremation overseas, our Ashes Overseas travel guide covers the documents and airline policies you’ll need.
What to Do Immediately (First 24 Hours)
Before you worry about flights or caskets, there are three critical calls you need to make.
- Contact the Travel Insurance Provider: If the deceased had travel insurance, this is your lifeline. Most comprehensive policies cover "Repatriation of Mortal Remains." They will often have a 24/7 assistance team to handle the logistics and costs, which can be significant.
- Contact the New Zealand Consulate or Embassy: If the death occurred in a foreign country (outside the Pacific or Australia), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) can provide advice. While they cannot pay for the funeral, they can help you navigate local laws.
- Engage a New Zealand Funeral Director: Do not try to organise the flight yourself. Airlines generally will not accept human remains directly from the public. You need a registered Funeral Director in New Zealand to liaise with a Funeral Director in the country of death.
Option 1: Bringing the Body Back to New Zealand
For many families, especially for Māori and Pasifika whānau, bringing the tūpāpaku (body) home is essential for cultural and spiritual closure. This allows for an open casket, a traditional tangi, and burial in ancestral soil.
The Process
This is a complex logistical operation that typically takes 10 to 14 days, depending on the country of death.
- Embalming is Mandatory: For international air travel, the body must be fully embalmed to meet airline safety standards and preservation requirements.
- The "Flight Tray" or Zinc Liner: The deceased cannot travel in a standard wooden coffin alone. They must be placed in a hermetically sealed (airtight) zinc-lined casket or a special shipping container. This prevents changes in air pressure from affecting the body during the flight.
- Customs & Biosecurity: New Zealand has strict biosecurity laws. The funeral director must provide documentation to New Zealand Customs and the Ministry of Health to ensure no communicable diseases are entering the country.
Documentation You Will Need
Your funeral director will gather these, but you may need to assist in locating them:
- Original Death Certificate (from the country of death).
- Embalming Certificate.
- Certificate of "No Communicable Disease."
- Deceased’s Passport (to cancel it and verify identity).
Option 2: Cremation Overseas (Returning with Ashes)
If a traditional burial in New Zealand is not required, or if the costs of full repatriation are prohibitive, many families choose a "direct cremation" in the country where the death occurred. You can then bring the ashes (cremains) back to New Zealand.
Why Choose This Option?
- Significantly Lower Cost: You avoid international freight charges for a heavy casket.
- Faster: You can often fly home with the ashes within 3–5 days.
- Easier Transport: You can carry the ashes yourself on the plane.
How to Bring Ashes on a Plane to NZ
You do not need a funeral director to transport ashes; you can do this yourself. However, strict rules apply:
- Carry-on Luggage: Most airlines (including Air New Zealand) require you to carry ashes in your hand luggage. Do not put them in checked baggage.
- Sealed Container: The ashes must be in a sealed, airtight container.
- Documentation: You must carry a certified copy of the Death Certificate and the Cremation Certificate.
- Declare It: You do not need to declare ashes to NZ Customs upon arrival unless you are also bringing other restricted items, but it is polite to inform airport security so they can screen the urn respectfully.
Special Case: Tonga & The Pacific Islands
Scenario: Bringing a loved one from Tonga to NZ for cremation, then returning the ashes.
We frequently assist families with a unique logistical loop involving the Pacific Islands. Often, families in Tonga (or Samoa/Fiji) prefer their loved one to be cremated, but local facilities may not be available or suitable.
The "Tonga to NZ" Cremation Pathway
This involves a double journey. Here is how we manage it:
- Inbound (Tonga to NZ): The deceased is flown to Auckland. As with any international repatriation, the body must be embalmed in Tonga and placed in an airline-approved casket.
- The Service in NZ: Once in Auckland, the family can hold a service or a private viewing at the crematorium. This is a beautiful opportunity for NZ-based whānau to pay their respects.
- Cremation: The cremation takes place in New Zealand.
- Outbound (NZ to Tonga): The ashes are prepared for travel. The family can then fly the ashes back to Tonga for the final burial or scattering on family land.
Pro-Tip for Pacific Families: Ensure you check the "Zinc Liner" requirements. If you intend to view the body in NZ, we need to ensure the zinc liner purchased in Tonga is one that can be easily opened and resealed, or we may need to transfer the deceased to a rental casket for the service.
Cost Comparison: Body vs. Ashes
Costs vary wildly depending on the distance (e.g., Australia is cheaper than the UK) and the weight of the casket. The following are estimates only to help you budget.
| Service | Estimated Cost (NZD) | Includes |
| Full Repatriation (Body) | $12,000 – $25,000+ | Professional fees (both ends), embalming, casket, international air freight, documentation. |
| Ashes Repatriation (Cremation Overseas) | $4,000 – $7,000 | Funeral director fees overseas, cremation fee, urn, basic paperwork. (Excludes your own flight ticket). |
| Ashes "Carry-on" | $0 | If you carry the ashes yourself, most airlines do not charge extra (it counts as carry-on). |
Note: Air freight costs are calculated on weight. A solid timber casket + zinc liner + body can weigh over 150kg, which is why airfares for repatriation are high.
Legal and Biosecurity Requirements (MPI)
New Zealand has one of the strictest biosecurity borders in the world. When bringing a deceased person home, we must satisfy the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Ministry of Health.
Key Rules:
- Communicable Diseases: If the person died of a contagious disease, entry may be refused or sealed-casket rules will apply strictly.
- Casket Materials: If the casket is made of untreated wood, it may need to be inspected or fumigated upon arrival. We recommend using standard treated caskets to avoid delays.
- Personal Items: Do not pack flowers, soil, or organic mats inside the coffin with the deceased. These will be flagged by biosecurity and will require expensive disposal or treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Does ACC cover the cost of repatriation?
Generally, no. ACC only covers accidental death in New Zealand. However, if the death was an accident overseas while the person was an ordinary resident of NZ, you may be eligible for a funeral grant, but this rarely covers the full cost of international flights.
2. Can I use a funeral director in New Zealand to arrange everything?
Yes. In fact, this is the best way. A NZ funeral director will contact a partner in the overseas country. They speak the same "industry language" and can arrange the embalming and flights much faster than you can alone.
3. How long does it take to bring a body back from Tonga?
It typically takes between 5 to 10 days. This accounts for the paperwork in Tonga, flight availability (cargo space on passenger planes is limited), and clearance in Auckland.
4. Can we bring a body home without embalming?
For international flights, usually no. Airlines (IATA regulations) require embalming to prevent decomposition during transit. If this is against religious beliefs (e.g., for Muslim or Jewish families), special "Dry Ice" shipping containers can sometimes be used, but this is significantly more expensive and not always accepted by every airline.
5. What happens when the body arrives in New Zealand?
The casket is collected from the airport cargo terminal by your NZ funeral director. It is taken to the funeral home where the zinc liner is removed. We then prepare the deceased for viewing, dressing, and the funeral service.
Summary
Bringing a loved one home is the final act of care you can offer them. Whether you choose to bring them back to rest in a local cemetery, or return their ashes to the Islands, the process requires patience and professional support.
Key Takeaways:
- Check Travel Insurance first.
- Decide early between Full Body Repatriation (expensive, traditional) or Ashes Repatriation (affordable, flexible).
- For Tonga/Pacific families: We can facilitate the "Body in, Ashes out" service seamlessly.
- Always use a qualified Funeral Director to handle the airline logistics.
Need help bringing someone home?
We understand the urgency and the cultural sensitivity required for repatriation. Our team is experienced in navigating international customs, airline regulations, and cultural protocols to get your loved one home safely.
Contact us today for a no-obligation chat about your options.