A new concept which means people would not have to be physically present at a funeral to take part, is being met with scepticism by the Catholic Church.

A Lower Hutt funeral director believes online funerals are the way of the future and the company has installed web cameras in one of its chapels.

The concept involves people who cannot attend a funeral, entering in a password into their computer and watching the service of a loved one on the internet.

But Lindsay Freer from the Catholic Church doubts the new technology will get off the ground. She says people go to funerals because they want to honour the person who has died. She believes it is not something that can be done online as there is no substitute for being physically present at a funeral.