Cremation and ashes
Many New Zealanders choose to be cremated, and have their ashes scattered or interred at a cemetery. Find out more about how this works in Kāpiti.
Cremations
Cremations are undertaken at two privately run crematoriums:
- Kāpiti Crematorium at Awa Tapu Cemetery, operated by Kāpiti Coast Funeral Home
- Kaitawa Crematorium at Waikanae Cemetery, operated by Waikanae Funeral Home.
For more information about cremations on the Kāpiti Coast please contact one of these funeral homes.
Ashes
In general, ashes can be collected 24 hours after the cremation. Special arrangements can be made with the funeral director for earlier collection.
The Crematorium can deliver remains to a place specified by the family or executors.
If the family's wishes are unknown, the funeral director is responsible for collecting or dispatching the ashes, or ashes will be sent to the funeral director at the funeral director's expense.
Scattering of ashes
Ashes may only be interred in designated cemetery plots or scattered in approved locations. Currently there's no set area for spreading ash in the district, but there are plans for a future area within Awa Tapu Cemetery in Paraparaumu. The plan is to plant a large bank area in native vegetation and open this area to ash scattering when planting has established, and is 2–3 metres in height.
Interment of ashes
You may inter up to four ashes in a monumental ashes plot, or two in an ashes beam or ashes garden plot. See Types of plots for more information.
Ashes may also be interred into an existing family burial plot, such as when a family member is cremated after an earlier family burial, and the family wants them interred together in the same location.
For attended ash interments, cemetery staff prepare the grave and reinstate the grave after the interment service.
Unattended ash interments are performed by cemetery staff on request.
Hours
Ashes services are held:
- Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm
- Saturday 9am–1pm
Special arrangements can be made outside these hours and for weekends and public holidays, but additional costs apply.