The legislation and paperwork for death and cremation certificates was updated in January 2009.
The main changes:
- Deaths and cremations are now mainly covered by the Burial & Cremation Act 1964
- The Medical Certificate of Causes of Death was revamped
- The Cremation Certificate of Medical Practitioner (Form B) has significant re-wording.
GUIDELINES
- Ministry of Health Website - certifying causes of death 2018
- MPS NZ Factsheet : certification for natural deaths.
- Dept of Internal Affairs brochure about burial, cremation and registering deaths.
- Ministry of Health Guideline: verifying that a patient is dead.
- Notifiable Infectious Diseases (Dept of Health)
PODCAST
www.wardcalls.com - podcasts developed and published by Dr Vani Chandran and Dr Sam Holford
- targeted to Auckland RMOs
- session on death certification: https://www.wardcalls.com/verifying-and-certifying-death/
LEGAL
- New Zealand Government legislation website (view all Acts, Regulations)
- Coronial Services NZ website
- Law Commission review of Death & Cremation certification in NZ 2011
- Law Commission recommendations for law changes 2015.
Funeral Directors Association of NZ (FDANZ) website
FORMS:
- Death Certificate HP4720
- Death certificate: neonatal/stillbirth HP4721
- Cremation Application Form A
- Cremation Form B (2018)
- Cremation Form B with notes
- Form AB (pacemaker) Embalmers certificate
- Coroner Referrals: Hospital Record of Death 2016
- Deceased Verification certificate
Pacemaker Explosions reference
Deceased Verification form FDANZ