WELLINGTON (OneNews), April 19, 2008:A dire shortage of funeral directors has the industry on edge.
The number of funeral directors is down and with the population profile ageing things aren't looking too flash.
The Funeral Directors' Association of New Zealand (FDANZ) says resources are being stretched as funerals become more time-consuming.
"They are more of an event as families want video and power point presentations or other special arrangements when they say their farewells. There are now more speakers at funerals. Organising this takes more time and the services are much longer than they were," says FDANZ President Neil Little.
Added to that Little says the industry is suffering from a skills shortage and high turnover of staff.
"The way things are going we will have too few experienced people to readily cope when the mortality escalation occurs," says Little.
About 30,000 people die in New Zealand each year and that is expected to jump by about a third in coming years.
FDANZ says running waiting lists for funerals is not something that people want to do
"In some services sectors waiting lists are grudgingly accepted. It is not the wish of our profession that such circumstances should extend to the funeral industry" says Little.
The FDANZ has surveyed its members for possible solutions and hopes to be able to attract back people who have left the industry as well as encouraging others into it.
Source: ONE News/Newstalk ZB
