NZQA registered unit standard
Title
Plan a funeral
Level
5
Purpose
8342 version 5
Page 1 of 5
Credits
35
This unit standard is for people working in the funeral directing
industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify the
needs and wishes of the family for the funeral service, and
burial or cremation; incorporate the cultural needs of the family
of the deceased into the funeral service plan; arrange for
viewing of the deceased; agree on the funeral contract with the
family; and apply communication skills when dealing with the
family of the deceased.
Classification
Funeral Services > Funeral Directing
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Competence demonstrated in this unit standard must comply with the requirements
of the Funeral Services Training Trust of New Zealand’s Industry Code of Ethics
available at http://www.fstt.org.nz.
2
References
References may include but are not limited to – Leming, MR & Dickinson, GE,
Understanding Death, Dying and Bereavement (7th Edition) (Belmont, CA: Thomson
Wadsworth, 2012); Mead, Hirini Moko, Tikanga Māori: Living by Māori Values
(Wellington: Huia Publications, 2006); Fulghum, R, From Beginning to End (New
York, NY: Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, 1997); Howarth, G &
Leaman, O (Eds), The Encyclopedia of Death and Dying (London: Routledge, 2001);
Schwass, M (Ed), Last Words: Approaches to Death in New Zealand’s Cultures and
Faiths (Wellington: Bridget Williams Books with the Funeral Directors Association of
NZ, 2005); Tauroa, H & Tauroa, P, Te Marae: A Guide to Customs and Protocol
(Auckland: Reed, 2004).
3
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to – Births,
Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 1995; Burial and Cremation
Act 1964; Coroners Act 2006; Estate Duty Abolition Act 1993; Health Act 1956;
Health (Burial) Regulations 1946; Human Tissue Act 2008; and Privacy Act 1993.
4
This unit standard must be assessed against on the basis of evidence of
demonstrated performance in the workplace. However Outcome 2 may be assessed
in a simulated situation if evidence of performance in the workplace is unavailable.
Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand
SSB Code 101575
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
5
8342 version 5
Page 2 of 5
Definition
Residence refers to any place that the deceased resided in, for example their own
home, a rest home, or relative’s home.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify the needs and wishes of the family for the funeral service, and burial or cremation.
Range
needs and wishes may include but are not limited to – traditional and/or
alternative options, type of burial, disposal of ashes, service format, audiovisual, service sheet requirements, floral tributes, catering, family transportation,
parking, memorial books, monumental memorials, seating arrangements and
ushers, casket selection, composition of newspaper notices, cultural and/or
religious variations.
Evidence requirements
1.1
A relationship with the family of the deceased is established in accordance with
the Industry Code of Ethics.
1.2
The details of the deceased are established in terms of the legal requirements
for the registration of death.
1.3
Documentation identifies the wishes of the family in relation to the funeral
service, and burial or cremation.
1.4
The details of the funeral and burial or cremation are discussed with the family
to confirm funeral requirements in accordance with the requirements of the
Health and Safety in Employment Act.
1.5
The funeral service arrangements are identified in terms of participation of
community groups, uniformed services, state, or church, in accordance with
family requirements.
Range
1.6
arrangements include but are not limited to – church, marae,
residence;
arrangements may include but are not limited to – fire service,
military, police, Returned Services Association, service
organisation, social organisations, guards of honour, lodge,
sporting agencies, state Very Important Persons, Very Important
Persons.
The family is informed of legal aspects related to the funeral, and burial or
cremation.
Range
legal aspects include but are not limited to – transferring deceased
as stated in Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act;
Cemetery and Crematorium bylaws; Coroners Act; Estate Duty
Abolition Act.
Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand
SSB Code 101575
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
8342 version 5
Page 3 of 5
Outcome 2
Incorporate the cultural needs of the family of the deceased into the funeral service plan.
Range
evidence is required for Māori, New Zealand European, and a minimum of two
other cultures from Asian, Pacific, European, African, Middle Eastern, South
American, Indian, North American.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The cultural needs of the family are identified and incorporated into the funeral
service plan in accordance with family requirements.
2.2
The process for preparing the deceased for burial or cremation is identified and
described in terms of practical and legislative requirements and incorporated
into the funeral service plan in accordance with family and cultural
requirements.
Outcome 3
Arrange for viewing of the deceased.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The family’s wishes for the presentation of the deceased for viewing are
identified with the family.
3.2
The place of viewing is identified in conjunction with the family’s requirements.
3.3
Arrangements are made for viewing of the deceased according to the family’s
wishes.
Outcome 4
Agree on the funeral contract with the family.
Evidence requirements
4.1
The elements of the funeral contract and their implications are explained to the
family and agreed upon.
Range
elements include but are not limited to – casket, professional
services, disbursements and other charges, GST.
Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand
SSB Code 101575
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
4.2
8342 version 5
Page 4 of 5
The family is informed of financial support services in accordance with the
funeral contract.
Range
financial support services include but are not limited to – Accident
Compensation Corporation, Work and Income New Zealand;
financial support services may include but are not limited to –
church and social agencies, company superannuation schemes,
insurance agencies, iwi, local support agencies, medical societies,
Returned Services Association, uniformed services, state.
Outcome 5
Apply communication skills when dealing with the family of the deceased.
Range
communication skills include but are not limited to – verbal communication, nonverbal communication.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Issues that may arise when communicating with the family of the deceased are
identified and described.
Range
5.2
Communication barriers are identified, and relevant and practical solutions
suggested to match specific situations.
Range
5.3
issues include but are not limited to – cross-cultural implications,
dealing with loss and grief, funeral process and procedures, family
conflict.
evidence is required of a minimum of three different situations.
Non-verbal communication signals are appropriate to the situation, culture,
context, and people involved.
Range
Planned review date
non-verbal communication signals include but are not limited to –
gesture, open and closed body language, eye contact, status
indicators, nods.
31 December 2016
Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand
SSB Code 101575
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
8342 version 5
Page 5 of 5
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
8 November 1996
31 December 2013
Revision
2
16 May 2000
31 December 2013
Review
3
20 September 2002
31 December 2013
Review
4
21 September 2007
31 December 2013
Review
5
19 April 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0221
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand fstt@fstt.org.nz if you
wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Funeral Service Training Trust of New Zealand
SSB Code 101575
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016