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Article: Idle undertakers fear business is dying away
- Article from:
- The Press
- Article date:
- February 27, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Press. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The already grim job of funeral directors is getting tougher as a
lack of deaths causes a slump in business.
Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show deaths for 2005
were down significantly on past years. Nearly 1400 fewer people died
than in 2004, and the death rate was at its lowest point in 15 years.
In total 27,034 people died in 2005.
The 1400 fewer funerals could leave the industry down about $7
million on the previous year -- going by the average price tag of
$5000 for a service.
Funeral directors and industry representatives said they had
noticed a decrease in business for some time.
Geoffrey Hall, owner of Geoffrey Hall Funeral Services in
Rangiora, said he had seen a ...