The co-owner of a company which employed a funeral director sentenced for interfering with human remains and obtaining money by deception says it's been an "incredibly painful chapter" for the business.

Hundreds more jobs are proposed to go at Health NZ, the PSA union says, and affected staff say they feel despondent, exhausted and anxious.

Europe faced its most widespread flooding last year since 2013, with 30% of the continent's river network hit by significant floods, scientists say.