Arrangement Meeting

Here we walk through the arrangements with you, complete the required paperwork, and plan the dressing so everything is ready for the next steps.

Neatly arranged legal requirements paperwork, a pen, and a green folder on a wooden desk with soft natural light.

Who Is Involved?

The arrangement meeting is usually attended by the immediate family or the key people responsible for making decisions. Your funeral director will guide you through the required paperwork and help confirm the details of the service.

Some families choose to have different people involved in each part of the process—for example, a few may attend the arrangement meeting while others focus on dressing their loved one. Others prefer to complete the arrangements first and then move into the dressing. Both options are perfectly fine.

We will coordinate the timing so that arrangements and dressing flow together smoothly on the same day.

What to Bring

To make the meeting smooth, it helps to bring a few key documents and items. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything - just bring what you can.

Please bring:

  • Passport, birth certificate, or driver licence
  • Marriage or relationship details (if applicable)
  • Clothing for dressing
  • Any personal items you’d like included
  • Medical or care documents (if relevant)

We’ll guide you through anything you’re unsure about.

Essential documents and personal items to bring for funeral arrangements in Auckland. Passport, clothes, and marriage certificate on a table

What to Expect During the Meeting

This is a calm, guided appointment where we go through the important decisions together. Most meetings take around 60 - 90 minutes.

You can expect:

  • A step-by-step explanation of each form
  • Help with wording and service choices
  • Time to look at casket options
  • Discussion of dressing and preparation
  • Space to ask questions at any point
  • A paced, unhurried conversation

We’ll make sure everything is clear and easy to follow.

Maori family members meeting with funeral director in [Your City/Region] to discuss funeral arrangements, service choices, and planning process for whanau. Professional and unhurried conversation

What We Will Do

During this meeting, we complete the details needed to begin the arrangements.

We will:

  • Complete the legal paperwork
  • Confirm burial, cremation, or repatriation decisions
  • Finalise casket and clothing selection
  • Discuss dressing and presentation preferences
  • Go over venues, dates, and availability
  • Cover any costs or options relevant to your choices

Once we’re finished, we can begin booking the cemetery, venue, celebrant, transport, and service details.

Pasifika funeral director in Auckland office efficiently processing cemetery paperwork and sending emails, showcasing professional service for families

Need Support or Help Understanding the Process?

Our team is available 24/7 to explain what to do next and to assist with all paperwork and legal requirements.

Call us anytime

Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (HP4720)

The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is the most fundamental piece of legal paperwork following a death in New Zealand. This document formally confirms the cause of death and is essential for the body to be legally handled, whether by burial or cremation.

What is the Certificate’s Purpose?

The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (HP4720 form) serves three primary functions:

  1. Legal Authority: It provides the funeral director with the legal authority, as required under the Burial and Cremation Act 1964, to take charge of the deceased's body.
  2. Official Record: It is the key source of information used by the Department of Internal Affairs (Births, Deaths and Marriages) to register the death and issue the final, legal Death Certificate.
  3. Statistical Data: The certificate ensures the cause of death is classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, providing accurate data for public health and mortality statistics.

Who Completes and Signs the Form?

The certificate must be completed and signed by a medical practitioner (doctor) or a nurse practitioner.

They are responsible for determining and correctly documenting the sequence of conditions that led to the death, which involves:

  • Part 1: Listing the sequence of events, starting with the immediate cause of death, followed by the antecedent (preceding) conditions, until they reach the Underlying Cause of Death—the disease or injury that initiated the fatal chain of events.
  • Part 2: Listing any significant contributing factors or other conditions that were present but not directly related to the cause of death (for example, a long-term chronic illness).

Crucially, this form must be provided to the funeral director as soon as possible after the death occurs, as this document constitutes permission for the funeral directors to uplift your loved one.