Burials

Burials are available at Ōtaki, Waikanae and Awa Tapu Cemeteries. At Paraparaumu Beach Cemetery only second interments in existing family plots are available.

Please note that burial plots cannot be reserved. More information is available in the Cemeteries Bylaw 2016.

Hours | Fees | On the day | Natural burials | Memorial plaques and headstones | Grave decorations | Grave maintenance | Subsequent interments | Disinterment

Hours

Burial services are held:

  • Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm
  • Saturday 9am–1pm.

Special arrangements may be made outside these hours and for weekends and public holidays, but additional costs apply.

Fees

Additional charges apply for Saturday and late interments. Burial plots may be single depth or double depth; the interment fees are the same. See our Districtwide cemetery charges. 

On the day

Pre-burial preparation

Only cemetery staff are permitted to dig graves and reinstate them after burials. You may help to reinstate if you make a prior arrangement with the Sexton or Funeral Director. 

Resources and services provided

Resources available for burials include:

  • grave mats
  • lowering device
  • boards, bearers and ropes
  • soil urn with trowel.

Support staff

Cemetery staff will not attend the service unless requested but will be available on site to:

  • greet and brief the funeral director
  • assist with loading and lowering the casket, if required
  • assist with any technical issues, and
  • oversee safety.

After the service

A temporary grave marker with the deceased's name is supplied by the funeral director and placed on the grave by cemetery staff.

Natural burials

Natural burial is available at Ōtaki cemetery. In a natural burial, the body is not embalmed, and a biodegradable casket is used to help natural decomposition. A native tree is then planted at the head or base of each plot.

Approved plants for natural burials include:

  • lemonwood Pittosporum eugenoides
  • ngaio Myoporum laetum
  • mahoe Melycitis simplex
  • five finger Pseudopanaz arboreus
  • kanuka Kunzea ericoides
  • red Matipo Myrsine australis
  • karamu Coprosma robusta.

This list will change from time to time; these plants are initial sub-canopy planting.

Natural burial plots cannot be reserved. More information is available in the Cemeteries Bylaw 2016.

Apply for a natural burial

Applications for a natural burial are done by approved funeral directors.

Find a certified funeral director for natural burials.

The funeral director will need to complete our Apply for an interment form.

Note: All documentation needs to be with Council at least 24 hours before the service.

Memorial plaques and headstones

A memorial placement can be authorised by the owner of the Exclusive Right of Interment or, if the owner is deceased, the immediate next of kin.

Memorial plaques and headstones must meet the specifications contained within the Cemeteries Bylaw 2016. This is to preserve a consistent visual standard throughout the cemeteries and ensure durability and safety of memorials.

Maintenance and repair

All headstone work must be carried out by a monumental mason or approved person.

Maintenance of memorials is the responsibility of the family (or whoever is responsible for the deceased).

Council does not fix, maintain or restore memorials and will only interact with headstones to the extent necessary to make them safe if damaged or unsafe.

Additional inscriptions

If you wish to add an inscription, please contact a monumental mason who will make the necessary arrangements with Council on your behalf. 

Grave decorations

You can decorate the cemetery headstone, but not the grass area in front of or behind the plot, as we need to maintain and mow these areas. Objects that are broken, decayed, unsafe, excessive or neglected may be removed, and the Sexton may remove any materials placed on or around the burial area.

Any alcohol containers, weapons or offensive material will be removed immediately. Objects removed will be held for one month awaiting instructions from the next of kin, and then they'll be disposed of.

No tree, shrub or plant may be planted in any part of the cemetery without first obtaining the written consent of the Sexton. All unauthorised plantings will be removed immediately.

Grave maintenance

Cemetery staff maintain the cemetery grounds and gardens. Memorial, plaque and headstone maintenance is the responsibility of the deceased's family or trustee.

Subsequent interments

This is where interment takes place in an existing grave to allow for the burial of other family members within the same plot.

Disinterment

Disinterment is when remains or ashes are removed from a grave. Remains are either transferred to another plot or removed from the cemetery entirely.

For all enquiries about disinterment, contact the Sexton.