Introduction
The Coronial Services of New Zealand serves the community through investigating circumstances and causes of death in a respectful and professional manner. The findings of these investigations will be used to make recommendations for the improvement of public safety and to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.
We will all experience the death of a loved one during our lives. Many of us fear death, and avoid it where we can; for some of us the subject is taboo. When someone we love dies in a sudden, unexplained or violent way, the surviving family and friends are often in shock, angry and bitter. In addition, there may be the added struggle of how to deal with the legal processes as well as the natural grief. If there is a police or coroner's inquiry, then the grieving can be prolonged as the evidence is reviewed and possible witnesses testify.
On top of the grief, deep sadness, and, in some cases, anger around the death, can be the concern of whether a loved one can be mourned and prepared for burial according to their cultural and spiritual beliefs. New Zealand is home to many different faiths and cultures, and the Coronial Services of New Zealand strives to recognise this cultural diversity and to work with families to ensure that the coronial process imposes as little as possible on moral, cultural or spiritual beliefs.
