The Funeral Directors' Association has just released figures for the last year, showing council costs for burials and cremations are continuing to rise, and some smaller centres are experiencing very large increases.
In Wairoa, for example, council costs have gone up 48% for burials and 42% for ash burials, although the district is the second cheapest place at $2960 for a burial, and $630 for an ash burial.
The New Plymouth District Council area is the most expensive - where burials cost $7207, and $1900 to bury ashes.
Chief executive of the Funeral Directors' Association, Gillian Boyes, says on top of increased council costs, her members are faced with rising labour costs, materials costs and compliance costs.
Headstones in Makaraka cemetery Photo: Phil Smith
