Deciding what the right funeral for your loved one is can be challenging. But at Hardings, our team is here to guide and help you make the right decisions for you and your family every step of the way. We offer a full range of services to suit all budgets, and this is done in consultation and in person so that you can feel confident in the choices you have made.
Every funeral invoice from Hardings Funerals is individualised. It will include our professional fee, and any goods purchased from us. The professional fee is reflective of the services a family has used, so it is a good idea to talk to your funeral director about the style of event you wish to plan to get a basic idea of costs. Alternatively, you may like to look at the scenarios that we have here on this page, and see if one will fit around the ideas you have and this may give you a loose indication of costs. As always, you are welcome to call us at the office 06 278 8633 to discuss costs at any time.
Every funeral invoice from Hardings Funerals is individualised. It will include our professional fee, and any goods purchased from us. The professional fee is reflective of the services a family has used, so it is a good idea to talk to your funeral director about the style of event you wish to plan to get a basic idea of costs. Alternatively, you may like to look at the scenarios that we have here on this page, and see if one will fit around the ideas you have and this may give you a loose indication of costs. As always, you are welcome to call us at the office 06 278 8633 to discuss costs at any time.
Our Pricing Structure
Our Pricing Structure
Our Pricing Structure
- Personal attendance to receive instructions from the family
- Transferring the deceased into our care
- Liaising with minister/celebrants, florists, organists, churches, or other venues
- Liaising with medical authorities regarding medical certificates, cremation certificates and burial applications
- Arranging funeral according to family’s instructions
- Preparing and organising newspaper notices
- Booking cemetery or crematorium
- Use of vehicles for funeral service
- Use of facilities for viewings
- Service sheet preparation and photo manipulation
- Photo presentation preparation and photo manipulation
- Memorial book preparation
- Preparation of the venue on the day of the funeral if required
- Arranging catering and caterers
The funeral account also includes other invoices that we will pay on your behalf, such as cemetery or cremation fees, flowers, catering, newspaper notices and the like. Because costs are paid on your behalf, we generally will send the account to the indicated recipient that you specified within ten working days from the funeral.
The due date for payment will be five weeks from the day the funeral invoice is sent.
An account finance charge is payable after the five weeks, but if you are concerned in any way about payment please contact us as soon as you are able.
The due date for payment will be five weeks from the day the funeral invoice is sent.
An account finance charge is payable after the five weeks, but if you are concerned in any way about payment please contact us as soon as you are able.
5 pricing examples
Below are five examples of what a funeral might look like and how your choices might vary the cost:
A private service in Hardings Funeral Chapel
A private service in Hardings Funeral Chapel
The family decided to have a private funeral at Hardings Chapel followed by an afternoon tea at a family members home with catering.
They chose a celebrant to lead the service and they decided to have service sheets. They also asked that we prepare a photo presentation for them, and live stream the service for a grandson living in London. The family chose a Tararua Pine Casket and have a small casket spray as a choice for flowers.
About 45 people attended, and said their farewell at the car as family opted for a private cremation. One notice was placed in the paper. Following the cremation, ashes were returned to the family for a private committal. Catering was ordered from the caterers of choice and this was enjoyed at a family members home.
They chose a celebrant to lead the service and they decided to have service sheets. They also asked that we prepare a photo presentation for them, and live stream the service for a grandson living in London. The family chose a Tararua Pine Casket and have a small casket spray as a choice for flowers.
About 45 people attended, and said their farewell at the car as family opted for a private cremation. One notice was placed in the paper. Following the cremation, ashes were returned to the family for a private committal. Catering was ordered from the caterers of choice and this was enjoyed at a family members home.
A public service in a local church or venue of the family’s choice
A public service in a local church or venue of the family’s choice
The family want the service at their local church, led by their minister or priest.
After the funeral service everyone will say goodbye at the hearse before it drives away to a private cremation at the Taranaki Crematorium.
Refreshments will be served in the church hall and these have been arranged by Hardings with a local caterer the family have chosen.
The family choose a simple casket from the Tararua Pine Range with a large colourful casket spray. Hardings prepare the service sheets which include the words to the hymns being sung and a photographic memorial book that the congregation sign.
They are expecting about 100 people. We place one notice in the newspaper prior to the service. Following the cremation, the ashes are to be placed in a simple wooden urn which the family will inter in an existing lot at the cemetery.
After the funeral service everyone will say goodbye at the hearse before it drives away to a private cremation at the Taranaki Crematorium.
Refreshments will be served in the church hall and these have been arranged by Hardings with a local caterer the family have chosen.
The family choose a simple casket from the Tararua Pine Range with a large colourful casket spray. Hardings prepare the service sheets which include the words to the hymns being sung and a photographic memorial book that the congregation sign.
They are expecting about 100 people. We place one notice in the newspaper prior to the service. Following the cremation, the ashes are to be placed in a simple wooden urn which the family will inter in an existing lot at the cemetery.
A larger funeral in a sports club or similar venue
A larger funeral in a sports club or similar venue
The family want a funeral at the local club on a Saturday followed by a burial in a new plot at a South Taranaki District Cemetery.
The location is important, and they want to reflect this in the service. The family want to have the casket at home for several days before the funeral service.
The service is to be led by a celebrant and at the end of the funeral service everyone will move to the cemetery for a burial in a new plot. After the burial everyone is invited to return to the club for refreshments which includes a few drinks.
The family selected a casket made from the premium Tararua Range (the Homestead). They have a family friend who is a florist and offers to provide the flowers. Hardings provide service sheets, but the grandson of the person who died creates the slide show. AV equipment and sound system hire for the venue is included into the hireage of the venue. They are expecting about 300 people.
The location is important, and they want to reflect this in the service. The family want to have the casket at home for several days before the funeral service.
The service is to be led by a celebrant and at the end of the funeral service everyone will move to the cemetery for a burial in a new plot. After the burial everyone is invited to return to the club for refreshments which includes a few drinks.
The family selected a casket made from the premium Tararua Range (the Homestead). They have a family friend who is a florist and offers to provide the flowers. Hardings provide service sheets, but the grandson of the person who died creates the slide show. AV equipment and sound system hire for the venue is included into the hireage of the venue. They are expecting about 300 people.
A funeral at their local marae
A funeral at their local marae
The family want to have their loved one embalmed and casketed, and taken to the marae where the funeral will be looked after privately.
Whanau have been caring for their loved one at home and Hardings transferred this person into their care that morning. All arrangements were done at the funeral home whilst aftercare for the deceased occurred.
Once family had assisted in dressing their loved one, a casket (Hadleigh Pine) was chosen and the whanau had a short karakia in Hardings Chapel before the journey to the Marae.
Once the whanau and the tupapaku were welcomed onto the marae and the lid taken off the casket, everything given another check over, the funeral director left back for the office.
Hardings took care of the death registration and were there for any queries the whanau had. They were also available for the provision of service sheets, memorial books and flowers should the family wish for those at extra cost.
Whanau have been caring for their loved one at home and Hardings transferred this person into their care that morning. All arrangements were done at the funeral home whilst aftercare for the deceased occurred.
Once family had assisted in dressing their loved one, a casket (Hadleigh Pine) was chosen and the whanau had a short karakia in Hardings Chapel before the journey to the Marae.
Once the whanau and the tupapaku were welcomed onto the marae and the lid taken off the casket, everything given another check over, the funeral director left back for the office.
Hardings took care of the death registration and were there for any queries the whanau had. They were also available for the provision of service sheets, memorial books and flowers should the family wish for those at extra cost.
Essential Care Service
Essential Care Service
The person who died did not want to have a funeral. They did not want to cause any fuss or bother for those left behind.
Wanting to respect this decision the family opted for a no service cremation. This meant that we transferred the loved one from the rest home where they died, brought them back into our care, took care of all the legal requirements such as gathering the medical and cremation documentation and permissions, registered the death, and then proceeded with the Direct Cremation using a return to sender cremation ark.
There was a half hour viewing, but the notice was extra to this scenario and there were no flowers or service sheets or any other options.
The criteria associated with this scenario is that a transfer may happen during after hours, but all arrangements and cremation will take place during working hours Monday to Friday and within 48 hours of the interview.
It is our hope as funeral directors and more importantly as caring professionals, that these families choose to remember this person’s life in some way. It might be as simple as a barbeque or afternoon tea at home, or even a few beers at this person’s local pub.
This is an essential service scenario that has been costed specifically. We gently remind people that to move outside of this scenario will affect changes to the financial aspect of this arrangement.
Wanting to respect this decision the family opted for a no service cremation. This meant that we transferred the loved one from the rest home where they died, brought them back into our care, took care of all the legal requirements such as gathering the medical and cremation documentation and permissions, registered the death, and then proceeded with the Direct Cremation using a return to sender cremation ark.
There was a half hour viewing, but the notice was extra to this scenario and there were no flowers or service sheets or any other options.
The criteria associated with this scenario is that a transfer may happen during after hours, but all arrangements and cremation will take place during working hours Monday to Friday and within 48 hours of the interview.
It is our hope as funeral directors and more importantly as caring professionals, that these families choose to remember this person’s life in some way. It might be as simple as a barbeque or afternoon tea at home, or even a few beers at this person’s local pub.
This is an essential service scenario that has been costed specifically. We gently remind people that to move outside of this scenario will affect changes to the financial aspect of this arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get assistance to pay the invoice?
Probate simply means the high court grants permission for the appointed executor to do his or her chosen duties – executing the will. Probate is the court's way of protecting citizens from fraudulent activity while looking after a will's beneficiaries. With probate granted, New Zealand law grants the executor of the will permission to control the distribution of the estate. Without probate, there is a risk of assets of the estate being misappropriated or abused.
How Does Probate Work?
If an executor decides the estate must go through probate, he/she must:
Complete an application for probate
Provide a copy of the last will and testament and a letter stating the following:
The executor knew he/she was the executor of the will and/or knew the deceased person
The executor believes to the greatest extent of his knowledge that the will he/she holds is the latest will
The executor must prove his/her identity
A statement that he/she will follow the deceased's wishes as described in the will
Once the application is received, the Court Registrar will determine the validity of the will and the executor's statements. If everything is valid, the court will grant probate, and the executor can move forward with the will.
How Does Probate Work?
If an executor decides the estate must go through probate, he/she must:
Complete an application for probate
Provide a copy of the last will and testament and a letter stating the following:
The executor knew he/she was the executor of the will and/or knew the deceased person
The executor believes to the greatest extent of his knowledge that the will he/she holds is the latest will
The executor must prove his/her identity
A statement that he/she will follow the deceased's wishes as described in the will
Once the application is received, the Court Registrar will determine the validity of the will and the executor's statements. If everything is valid, the court will grant probate, and the executor can move forward with the will.
WINZ may be able to assist in paying for some funeral expenses if the person who has died has little or no money to pay for the invoice. At present (2024), the maximum funeral grant is $2445.37. It can be used for costs such as a casket, embalming, compulsory fees such as burial or cremation costs.
ACC can assist with a funeral grant for an accidental death of up to $7,491.95 (2024) towards funeral and or memorial costs. This amount does change every year. There is extra help available for victims of homicide. Your funeral director at Hardings will assist you in filing the relevant paperwork to ACC for the grant.
While we pay these costs on your behalf, these fees vary around Taranaki. Please call your funeral director at Hardings for up to date and relevant information