Choosing a Cemetery

When making end-of-life arrangements, selecting the right cemetery is a deeply personal decision. It's a place where loved ones will gather, pay their respects, and find solace.

Types of Cemeteries

In New Zealand, the options for burial are usually: 

1. A public cemetery (which are council-operated)
2. A denominational cemetery (usually church-operated)
3. A Māori cemetery (urupā)
4. A private cemetery

*In the event that there is no cemetery within 32 km of the deceased’s place of death or where you will bury them, they can be buried elsewhere — but the nearest District Court must be notified and told of the cause of death. 

How to Choose a Cemetery

When choosing a cemetery for your loved one, first consider whether there are any locations that were of special significance to them. Also consider: 

• Location, Accessibility, & Ambiance

• Cultural or Religious Beliefs

Cultural and religious beliefs can play a significant role in burial customs. Options for cemeteries include those which are purely denominational (*though not all denominational cemeteries require the deceased to be a member of the denomination) or dedicated denominational sections of larger public cemeteries. If religious or cultural beliefs are relevant to your burial decisions, choose a cemetery that can accommodate those needs.

• Military Service 

If the deceased or their spouse or partner was a veteran and took part in certain deployments, they are eligible to be buried in a Services Cemetery. These cemeteries are mostly dedicated sections within public cemeteries, and are managed by local councils. *Note: Veterans' Affairs will pay for plaques or headstones installed in services cemeteries. 

• Green Alternatives

Growing in popularity are green burials, where the deceased is placed in a biodegradable coffin or shroud and directly into a shallow grave, to naturally decompose. Natural Burials, the not-for-profit organization that certifies natural cemeteries in New Zealand, has fully certified 12 such sites across the country.

Cemetery Rules

Every cemetery has rules and regulations, which can govern everything from grave maintenance to site visitations to allowed monuments, and it is important to take this into consideration. If, for example, you plan to have a certain kind of monument, headstone or plaque installed on the plot, consider that you'll need permission from the cemetery's management (in most cases the local council). There may be restrictions regarding their shape, size, style, or material composition.

How to Choose a Cemetery Plot

When choosing a plot for your loved one's remains, there are many factors to consider, such as: 

• Plot location 

Is the plot in a higher-traffic location, near a pathway or access road, for instance, or in a quieter corner? 

• Type of plot desired

Available options depend on whether your loved one will be buried or cremated:

• For standard burials, plots are typically available either as single depth (for a single burial) or double depth (which allow loved ones to be buried together). 

• For ash interments, there are options such as ash plots (which can be found in settings such as memorial gardens or arboreta), ash vaults (including individual niches and columbaria), and public or family octagons. Ashes are typically permitted to be interred on regular burial plots as well, and are subject to a limit on the number of sets permitted per plot, in accordance with cemetery rules (which vary).

• Alternative plot types for burial, such as those of green burials, above-ground burials, and underground vault burials, are also available. For the environmentally conscious, green burials are an increasingly popular option, as they forgo the use of embalming, utilize environmentally friendly caskets or shrouds, and support habitat conservation. For above-ground burial, options include mausolea, where body remains are entombed. Underground vaults, which are typically built within land unsuitable for traditional burial plots (for example on steep slopes or rocky areas), are perhaps the most expensive option — requiring high development and maintenance costs.

If you plan to purchase a cemetery plot, note that we always recommend pre-purchasing, if possible. Doing so simplifies the funeral planning process and often enables family members to be buried close together. If you need a coffin, consider purchasing from a reputable retailer like Noble Coffin. 

*Note that pre-purchase of a cemetery plot is available in many, but not all cemeteries. In recent years, due to demand pressures, some cemeteries have modified their rules to allow plot purchases only when there’s an immediate need.