For 72% of New Zealanders (and increasing) the answer is: Cremation. Let’s see how New Zealand compares with international rates and trends.
Cremation Rates Internationally
Wow – who knew that Japan’s cremation rate was almost 100%. New Zealand is also getting up there at 72% and the general trend is cremation rates are on the rise.
International Predictions
International research coming out of the US indicates that cremation rates are set to climb by 20% in the US over the next 10-15 years. Research from the National Funeral Directors Association indicate there are many reasons people choose cremation over burial.
Data out of Canada shows a current rate of 65.5 percent and a projected increase to 89.4 percent by 2035.
What this means for New Zealand
New Zealanders are becoming more comfortable with the concept of cremation and more conscious of the environmental impact they have when they die. They are also conscious of the costs associated with saying goodbye to a loved one.
Although Eco Burials are becoming another popular alternative the international research suggests that cremation rates will continue to rise.
It would suggest that New Zealanders will continue to look for new and innovative ways to memorialise and remember their loved ones. We may even see more of a increase in memorial services where a coffin is not present.
With baby boomers hitting retirement age the number of funerals are set to increase significantly over the coming years. During which time the land available for burials will continue to decrease. This will result in pressure on funeral service providers and an increase in the overall cost of funerals in New Zealand.
New Zealanders will continue to look for cost effective solutions to providing a beautiful service for their loved one at a reasonable cost.
Hopefully this will also mean that New Zealanders will begin to shop around more. Currently most New Zealanders only approach one Funeral Service Provider before finalising their loved ones funeral. Shopping around could save a significant amount of money, which will become important as costs continue to increase.
Three things to remember:
