Embalming and Preparation
Embalming isn’t compulsory in New Zealand.
It’s a preservation treatment, and whether you need it comes down to two things: how long it’ll be until the funeral, and whether you want a viewing.
Everyone in our care is looked after either way. Hygiene and preparation care is given to every person we look after, embalmed or not, and we don’t charge for it.
We will explain whether embalming would be helpful in your circumstances and why. You can call us on (04) 385 0745 at any time to talk it through with a funeral director.
What we do for everyone in our care
Every person who comes into our care receives hygiene and preparation care as a matter of course. It happens whether or not you choose embalming, and we don’t charge for it.
That’s worth saying plainly, because families sometimes assume that declining embalming means declining care. It doesn’t. The standard is the same either way.
When embalming is worth considering
There are three situations where we’d raise it with you.
Outside those, it’s often not necessary. We’ll tell you plainly which side of the line you’re on rather than leaving you to guess.
Viewings without embalming
It often depends on timing and a few practical things we’ll talk through with you, but a viewing without embalming is possible more often than families expect.
If seeing them matters to you, say so. We’ll work out what’s possible rather than starting from what isn’t.
Common questions
We’ve moved away from formaldehyde. The chemicals we use now are carbon-based, and they break down naturally over time.
We will help you decide
This is one of the decisions families feel least equipped to make, and one of the easiest to talk through. Call us and we’ll tell you what we’d do.
