Category: cemeteries

Whangarei cemetery first in existing forest

Whangarei cemetery first in existing forest

The new natural cemetery in Whangarei is the first and currently only natural cemetery that buries in an existing native forest. We love this approach – used in many cemeteries in the UK – because it means the grave is immediately within a live forest habitat.

The format does result in a “messier” look to the initial grave – see photo – but the forest floor will soon recover.

The Whangarei cemetery uses most of our burial protocols but has not sought certification. It buries caskets 800mm deep.

Click Cemetery-Information-Pack-Burials-2018  for the Council’s information pdf.

Whangarei cemetery first in existing forest

Gisborne district / Tairawhiti

We now have a local natural burial advocacy group in the Gisborne / tairawhiti region. If you’d like to help them organise for a cemetery in the region get in touch with Nisbet Smith on 021 204 1080. Local groups are absolutely instrumental to convincing local authorities to set up natural cemeteries.

Gisborne district / Tairawhiti

South Island cemetery update

SOUTH ISLAND CEMETERIES:

We’ve had a large number of inquiries from the south island recently about local natural cemeteries. You are now well served.

The natural cemetery we have certified is in Blenheim. This is large and attractively sited.

The cemeteries following most of our protocols, but small and/or without natural bush cover are in Dunedin, Nelson and Motueka.

There is an uncertified cemeterty in Invercargill (only 30 plots).

We’re afraid that despite our best efforts there is no natural cemetery in Christchurch. The best we’ve achieved thanks to local efforts is a very small (15 plot) site for natural burials in Diamond Harbour.

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We send irregular newsletters to update on developments at existing cemeteries and progress on new ones.