Support agencies for Bereaved Families

Victim Support: provides 24-hr practical and emotional support, personal advocacy and information to all people affected by crime and trauma throughout New Zealand.

Contact your local police station and ask for Victim Support, phone 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846) or visit www.victimsupport.org.nz

ACC: If you have lost a family member as a result of an injury, ACC may be able to provide help. Examples of ACC support include a funeral grant, a survivor's grant, childcare payments and weekly compensation. The ACC booklet 'Getting help after someone dies from an injury' provides further information and is available from your nearest ACC office.

Contact your nearest ACC office, which will be listed in the government listings in your phone book's blue pages or visit www.acc.co.nz

Work and Income New Zealand: After an accidental death families can be very pressured financially. Work and Income may be able to provide income support to people who need it. In addition, a Funeral Grant may be available to the partner, child, parent or guardian of someone who has died, to help towards the cost of the funeral. This grant is income and asset tested.

For more information regarding your entitlements, contact WINZ on 0800 559 009 or visit www.winz.govt.nz

SANDS - Stillbirth and Newborn Death Support: Sands groups around New Zealand are made up of parents helping to care for other bereaved parents, whānau and friends. They promote awareness, understanding and support for those dealing with the death of a baby in pregnancy, at or soon after birth or due to medical termination, and other forms of reproductive loss.

Find out your local contact by visiting www.sands.org.nz or email contact@sands.org.nz for further information.

Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ): FDANZ is an association representing the majority of the funeral directing companies in New Zealand - a group of caring professionals who are committed to ensuring that the families they serve are receiving high-quality service. Its members arrange and direct over 80 percent of all funerals in New Zealand.

Visit www.funeralsnewzealand.co.nz to find out contact details for your local funeral director.

Skylight: Skylight specialises in helping children, young people and their families/whānau through tough times of change, loss, trauma and grief - whatever the cause wherever they live in New Zealand. It also assists individuals and professionals supporting them. Skylight offers helpful information, specialist resources and training, and in the Wellington region it offers child and teen support groups and counselling.

Visit www.skylight.org.nz for information, resources and support - or phone 0800 299 100.

Department of Internal Affairs: Anyone - not just a funeral director - can organise the burial or cremation of the deceased. If you want to find out more information, there is a brochure available on the Department of Internal Affairs website which informs the reader about what must be done before a deceased is buried or cremated in New Zealand or transported to another country

For more information visit www.dia.govt.nz

Maori SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome): Maori SIDS is dedicated to assisting whanau, health professionals and communities to reduce the incidence of SIDS and SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Infancy). We offer up to date SIDS/SUDI information, undertake pertinent research and deliver specialised training programmes. As a resource hub, we are able to assist services who provide support and advice to SIDS/SUDI whanau.

For more information visit www.maorisids.org.nz or email maorisids@auckland.ac.nz

SIDS New Zealand Incorporated: SIDS New Zealand is a national organisation established to provide services for families and communities who have had children die suddenly and/or unexpectedly of any cause including SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

For more information visit www.sids.org.nz or email info@sids.org.nz, Helpline number (24 Hours) 0800 164 455

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