Who's picking up the tab for tangihanga?

Tangihanga is important: "Without the death ritual of tangihanga we're losing the real reason of why we have marae. It's about linking the dead with the living [and] with those yet to be born" Professor Paul Tapsell

Relying on koha to 100% fund the tangihanga may be possible, but in many cases it is not. Unexpected tangihanga costs can put your whanau under financial stress as costs can easily exceed $10,000. For instance:

1. The average cost of a funeral is between $6500 and $7000
   
2. Cost of repatriation from Brisbane is between $6,500 -$8.500
   
3. Food costs $66+ per person per day

There are various ways to fund the koha gap - here are 6 ways:

If you have the money, a funeral trust (1) may be the best way to go. The money won't get locked up in probate but the money is locked away until you die.

Insurance companies marketing might want you to believe Funeral Insurance (3) is the next best option, however you need to consider some caveats:

• It may take two year before you get full cover (death from illness, disease or suicide may be not be covered initially)
• If your can't pay your premiums, you may be left with nothing
• Premiums get used up by: insurance profits, insurance expenses (marketing etc) and paying other claims (likely to people you don't know)

You may want to consider other options...

If you are a member of a credit union such as ACU or NZCU you can opt-in to their bereavement fund (3). If any member of the fund dies, a small automatic payment (ranges from $2 to $4) is made from all other member. Depending on the number of fund members, the payout can be anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000.

If you want to be a bit more exclusive (bereavement fund membership is normally in the thousands) then you may want to consider Whanau cover (PeerCover). Like a bereavement fund:

• There is no initial period where cover is limited 
  
• You can take your money out whenever you want 

Unlike a bereavement fund:

• The payout is based on a multiple of your balance* where the cost is shared pro-rata from others in your PeerGroup (whanau). 
  
• There are no annual fees (or interest) just a $100 fee paid upon death, the rest of the money goes to you and your PeerGroup 
• You can see who else is in your PeerGroup and their balances - it is not anonymous. Importantly you will be notified of any claim, so you know where your money is going.
• PeerGroup members can, by majority, not accept new members or decline payouts (effectively reducing the payout multiple to 1)
  

* recommended multiples are:

(4) & (5) are pretty self-explanatory. Probably not the best options but still options.

If you are interested in Whanau Cover for your iwi, hapu, whanau or just friends - join up today.