Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The number of people in the Auckland region who died without any family or friends to handle funeral arrangements leapt in the last year.
If someone dies and no family or friends come forward to claim the body, some councils cover the cost of a burial or cremation.
In the last year Auckland Council covered the cost of cremation for 15 people, up from only five cremations and one burial in the previous year.
The last spike was in 2022 when the council paid for the cremations of 11 people.
Auckland Counc
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