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Kiwis travelling overseas this summer are being warned to check if their travel insurance covers the costs of repatriating a deceased family member should the worst occur.
Latest Stats NZ data shows the re-emergence of international travel with Kiwis travelling offshore last December at 74 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
Experts say the growing number of Kiwis heading overseas is likely to increase the number of us who pass away while in a foreign country.
According to NZ Customs figures, the remains of twice as many New Zealanders are repatriated from overseas as they are sent from NZ to other countries.
In the years before the pandemic, this would have seen up to 565 Kiwis being returned home annually. This data suggests an estimated 140 New Zealanders could pass away while overseas this summer.
Davis Funerals general manager Michael Powell says this is significant as in addition to the grief associated with losing a loved one, there are a number of complexities associated with managing the logistics of death in many foreign countries.
Data from the New Zealand High Commission shows repatriating a body from our closest international neighbour, Australia, can be expensive, sometimes in excess of AUD$10,000, depending on the location of death; so many people choose cremation as repatriating ashes costs considerably less.
Michael says the cost and time to repatriate a body from some European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries can be significantly higher and far more complex.
“Most countries want the deceased gone as quickly as possible, the issue often depends on where the body needs to get to. If it is from Australia to New Zealand or vice versa it’s a very simple process as there is no need for embassy involvement or approvals required other than the funeral homes’ documentation.
“However, if you are looking to repatriate a body from the United States, Egypt or France, for example, you need to engage the embassy and they need to go through their own detailed set of processes effectively to agree to view and identify the body and determine that the body is safe to return,” he says.
Michael says each country tends to have its own very unique set of requirements when it comes to processing a death and often they are considerably different to how things are managed in NZ.
“The host country will almost certainly require a post-mortem or autopsy of the body to determine the presumed cause of death and this falls outside the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Coroner. Once the presumed cause of death has been determined, the issuance of the death certificate will also take place in the country or territory where the death occurred.
“What is consistent is that the body which is being repatriated by air has to have been embalmed and the casket to have been hermetically sealed to be able to be fly, sometimes this can take a week, but I’ve seen instances where it’s taken more than three weeks for the body to arrive home.
“Some countries are just hard to get to and may not have daily flights from commercial airlines. This can mean the deceased will move through a series of airlines and countries before they arrive home to be accepted by a funeral director.
“Adding to the difficulty is the list of essential paperwork and documents that need to be filled in. There needs to be a consignee or funeral director at each end, sometimes they are not always available and may not speak English,” he says.
He says in some instances where it is particularly difficult to secure repatriation, the NZ Embassy in that country or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade may be able to assist.
He says consignors have to show documentation to prove that the casket has been hermetically sealed before it can depart and on its arrival.
Michael says cremation can be a more cost-effective way to return a loved one home.
“The ashes of a loved one can be transported as a “carry on” item and a Certificate of Cremation, and non-contraband affidavit will be required. If there is no one to accompany the ashes home they can be freighted from funeral director to funeral director,” he says.
Michael says even if families opt for cremation, costs will vary from country to country and it’s important travellers check with their insurance provider that repatriation is covered.
“Getting the body home can be complex and expensive at a time when loved ones are grieving. I have seen costs of more than $15,000 just to repatriate the body of a family member and it’s an additional shock for those already reeling from the loss.
“People generally don’t spend a lot of time thinking about making these provisions as they want to live in the moment. But we’ve had terrible situations where a family member has passed away and those left behind are unsure of their wishes, or how to get the body home.
“Part of the role a funeral director can provide is to work with the foreign embassy, consulate, airline and manage the paperwork ensuring that it adheres to New Zealand and international laws, airline regulations and local customs of the host country,” he says.
Michael says planning needs to include your wishes for any medical decisions required on your behalf while you’re away. Thought should also be given to ensuring your will is up to date, with a guardian to take care of any children, an executor to manage your estate and any funeral provisions.
“I have also dealt with many international families who have arrived in New Zealand for a holiday and a loved one has died, once even on the same day. It is absolutely numbing for them, they have flown halfway around the world to have a holiday and are leaving in a casket. They cannot comprehend that one minute they are pulling their luggage off the carousel for a dream trip and the next minute they are planning a funeral for a loved one half a world away,” he says.
