A eulogy is often the most powerful part of any funeral or celebration of life. It puts grief into words and helps everyone gathered remember the person they have lost.
But during an already overwhelming time, many New Zealanders quietly wonder: what does it actually cost to have a meaningful eulogy written? Below we compare the three most common approaches and introduce an alternative many Kiwi families are not yet aware of.
People ask me about the price of a eulogy all the time. Usually something else is sitting behind the question: the worry of having to make yet another decision at a time that is already overwhelming. My honest view: what carries a eulogy is not the budget, it is the willingness to speak honestly about the person you are saying goodbye to. Which of these paths is right for you depends less on the price than on how much energy you have left in this season.
Claire Thompson
Option 1: Hire a Funeral Celebrant or Professional Eulogy Writer
A funeral celebrant or professional eulogy writer will typically meet the family in person or by phone, gather memories and stories, and craft a personalised speech. Most celebrants in New Zealand also deliver the eulogy at the service and weave it into the wider ceremony.
What does it cost? Funeral celebrant fees in New Zealand generally sit between NZ$590 and NZ$800+ for a full ceremony, with eulogy writing included. A standalone bespoke eulogy commissioned from a private writer can range from NZ$400 to NZ$1,000+, depending on the writer’s experience and how many drafts are involved. Travel charges of around NZ$0.70–NZ$1.00 per kilometre often apply outside the celebrant’s base region.
Time required: Expect a lead time of several days to a week. During the acute grieving phase that means extra organisational effort: scheduling consultations, gathering information, and going through revision rounds.
Verdict: Professional and compassionate, but a real expense. With the average New Zealand funeral already costing around NZ$10,000, it adds meaningful pressure to a budget that is already stretched.
Option 2: Write It Yourself (DIY)
Many whānau members feel a strong instinct to write the eulogy themselves, wanting to personally pay their final respects. This is a deeply honourable instinct.
What does it cost? Nothing financially. But the emotional cost is considerable. Finding the right words while you are in the depths of grief is extraordinarily difficult. Many people spend days wrestling with a eulogy, caught between mourning, funeral planning, family obligations and everyday life that does not pause.
Time required: Very high, and emotionally exhausting. The combination of time pressure and grief frequently leads to frustration with the result, or feeling completely overwhelmed.
Verdict: Personal and heartfelt, but an enormous additional burden during one of life’s hardest weeks.
Option 3: AI-Powered Speech Generator
An AI-powered speech generator creates a compassionate, individualised eulogy based on your personal details about the person who has died. You answer questions about them, your relationship and your shared memories, and receive a complete speech you can further customise. Try it out here.
What does it cost? Just a fraction of what a celebrant or professional writer charges. A welcome relief when funeral costs are already stretching the family budget.
Time required: Approximately 15 minutes. You complete the questionnaire and the AI creates a personalised eulogy. Especially valuable when the service is only days away and time is in short supply.
Verdict: Fast, dignified and affordable. A genuine help during one of life’s most difficult moments.
The Comparison: All Three Options at a Glance
| Celebrant / Eulogy Writer | Write It Yourself | AI Speech Generator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | NZ$590 - NZ$1,000+ | NZ$0 (but high emotional cost) | Very affordable |
| Time Required | Several days to 1 week | Days (under heavy emotional strain) | ~15 minutes |
| Quality | Very high | Variable | High & compassionate |
| Personalisation | Yes (after consultation) | Yes (on your own) | Yes (via questionnaire) |
| Availability | Lead time needed, often booked | Immediate, but emotionally hard | Available instantly |
| Emotional Burden | Low (taken off your hands) | Very high | Low |
Which Option Is Right for You?
Funeral Celebrant or Eulogy Writer
The right choice if you want someone to handle the entire ceremony, including delivering the speech. Particularly valuable when no one in the family feels able to stand in front of the congregation, or when the service is large and formal.
Write It Yourself
A good option for those who feel capable of finding the right words despite their grief. If you write well and have the time, you can create something deeply personal. For most people, however, it becomes overwhelming under the circumstances.
AI-Powered Speech Generator
Ideal for anyone who wants a personal, dignified eulogy but lacks the time or emotional energy to write one from scratch. The generator gives you a compassionate foundation that you can enrich with your own memories and personal touches.
Our Recommendation: Let AI Support You Through a Difficult Time
During grief, forming a clear thought is hard enough, let alone writing a coherent speech. That is exactly where an AI speech generator helps: it lifts the burden of the blank page and gives you a structure to build on with your own words.
Focus on what truly matters: saying goodbye and honouring a life well lived. Try our speech generator and let us help during this difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main ways to get a eulogy written in New Zealand?
There are three common approaches. You can hire a funeral celebrant or professional eulogy writer, write it yourself, or use an AI-powered speech generator. Celebrants usually also deliver the eulogy at the service, writing it yourself is deeply personal but emotionally heavy, and the AI generator produces a personalised draft from a questionnaire that you can refine in your own words.
How long does each eulogy option take to prepare?
A celebrant or professional writer typically needs a lead time of several days to a week, with consultations and revision rounds. Writing it yourself can take days of emotionally exhausting effort. An AI speech generator takes roughly 15 minutes, which is especially valuable when the service is only days away.
Is writing my own eulogy a good idea?
It is a deeply honourable instinct, and if you write well and have the time you can create something very personal. But finding the right words while you are in the depths of grief is extraordinarily difficult, and many people feel completely overwhelmed juggling mourning, funeral planning and everyday life. It comes down to how much energy you have left in this season.
When is a funeral celebrant the best choice?
Choose a celebrant when you want someone to handle the entire ceremony, including delivering the speech. This is particularly valuable when no one in the family feels able to stand in front of the congregation, or when the service is large and formal.