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A review by the Health Ministry is underway after a series of mistakes with grieving families complaining that the bodies were incinerated by mistake.
Michelle Bishop’s daughter, Sharnae McLean, 24, tragically died in 2017.
She told Chris Lynch on Newstalk ZB that her daughter’s body began to change color two hours after her return from the funeral home and they were told to wear makeup.
“Within two hours after they left, we noticed that her face had started to change color. They proceeded to give us Thin Lizzie and just dust her off as needed.”
The urn the family had ordered after the funeral was also not received.
Bishop said the problems are because anyone can start a funeral home and registration is not required.
“I sincerely hope that the government looks at this and makes the change because someone has to be held accountable when something goes wrong.
“It was the most horrible ending, something I will never forget in my life.”
The Funeral Directors Association has welcomed the review to give bereaved families more rights when funerals go wrong.
The association’s executive director, David Moger, told Mike Hosking at Newstalk ZB, that new entrants without qualifications or standards are entering the industry.
He said that literally anyone can sign a form, create a Facebook account, buy a car, and do business. Moger said they will not be fired in a meaningful way.
The review of the Ministry of Health closes at the end of the month.
