New Zealand · Bereavement
How to Register a Death in New Zealand
Every death in New Zealand must be registered within 3 working days. In most cases your funeral director handles this on your behalf — but here's exactly what's involved, and how to get the death certificate once it's done.
Deadline
3 working days
Who registers it
Usually funeral director
Registered with
BDM (Dept. of Internal Affairs)
Cost per certificate
~$33 each
Who registers the death?
In New Zealand, deaths are registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM), part of the Department of Internal Affairs. The law requires this to happen within 3 working days of the death.
If you have engaged a funeral director — which most families do — they will register the death on your behalf as part of their service. You don't need to do anything extra for this step.
If you are arranging the funeral yourself without a funeral director, you are responsible for registering the death directly with BDM.
The Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD)
Before a death can be registered, a doctor must issue a Medical Certificate Cause of Death (MCCD). This is the official document confirming the cause of death and is required before burial, cremation, or registration can proceed.
- In hospital or hospice: the attending doctor issues the MCCD
- At home with a known illness: the GP or attending doctor issues it
- Sudden or unexplained death: the Coroner becomes involved and issues the relevant documentation — this can take longer
Coroner's cases: If the Coroner is involved, the body cannot be released until the Coroner gives permission. Your funeral director will liaise with the Coroner's office and keep you informed of timing.
Registering without a funeral director
If you are handling arrangements yourself, you can register the death online at bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz or in person at any Service Centre.
You will need to provide:
- The MCCD from the attending doctor
- Full name of the deceased (including any previous names)
- Date and place of birth
- Usual occupation
- Home address
- Names of parents
- Marital or civil union status
- Names of any surviving spouse, partner, or children
Getting the death certificate
Once the death is registered, you can order certified copies of the death certificate from BDM. These are the official documents you will need to deal with banks, government agencies, insurers, and lawyers.
- 1 Go to bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz and order online — or visit a Service Centre in person.
- 2 Each certified copy costs approximately $33. Order at least five to six copies — most organisations require their own original.
- 3 Standard processing takes around 5–10 working days for postal delivery. In-person collection at a Service Centre is faster.
Order more than you think you need. Banks, insurers, KiwiSaver providers, lawyers, and government agencies typically each require their own certified original. Getting extras upfront saves time — reordering later costs the same per copy.
Using myTrove to notify multiple agencies at once
Once you have the death certificate, myTrove is a free government service that lets you notify multiple organisations — including IRD, Work and Income, NZTA, and others — in one go. It can significantly reduce the number of individual phone calls and forms required. Your funeral director may mention this, but it's worth looking into directly.
Not sure what else needs doing?
Registering the death is just the beginning. Our full NZ guide covers every step after someone dies — or answer a few questions and get a plan tailored to your situation.