What to do if a loved one dies outside of New Zealand
If someone you’re travelling with or a family member who is travelling has died, you should contact us.
If you can, have ready the person’s:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Passport details
- Travel insurance details
- Close family member’s contact information
- Any tikanga or cultural considerations that you want local authorities or funeral directors to take into account.
How a New Zealand embassy can help
New Zealand embassies, high commissions and consulates are there to help New Zealand citizens when they’re having difficulty overseas.
Find a New Zealand embassy
A New Zealand consular officer can:
- Work with police to notify next of kin of a death.
- Help the deceased’s family handle the remains, either locally or by repatriation of remains or ashes to New Zealand.
- Provide contact details for local funeral directors, who can manage the funeral or repatriation arrangements.
A New Zealand consular officer cannot:
- Get involved in, or speed up, procedures that are required by local law enforcement after a death, such as autopsies or post-mortems.
- Pay for funeral expenses, repatriation of remains, or return of personal effects.
- Investigate the cause of a death.
More information
