Burial and ash interment at Akatārawa Cemetery

Many families choose to work with a funeral director, who can guide you through the process and manage arrangements on your behalf.

If you would like this support, you can contact a local funeral director. They will take care of the necessary arrangements, including coordinating directly with us at the Cemetery.

You do not need to complete a burial or ash interment enquiry form if you are working with a funeral director.

The crematorium at Akatārawa Cemetery is owned and operated by Gee and Hickton Funerals, who can assist with cremation services. Please contact them directly on 04 528 2331 to discuss cremation options.

Some families choose to manage arrangements themselves. If you are doing this, it’s important to understand the steps involved when someone passes away.

We recommend referring to the New Zealand Government guide on what to do when someone dies. It provides clear, practical information to help guide you through the process.

If you wish to arrange a burial or ashes interment at Akatārawa Cemetery yourself, you can use the “Make a burial or ash interment enquiry” form below. Our Cemetery team will be in touch to guide you through the requirements and next steps.

Making a burial or ash interment enquiry

All burials and ashes interments at Akatārawa Cemetery must be approved and scheduled with our Cemetery team.

If you are working with a funeral director, they will usually make these arrangements on your behalf, so you do not need to complete this form.

When to use this form

• A family-led burial (for a body or ashes)
• Ash scattering
• Ash storage
• An unveiling ceremony
• A disinterment

Before you start

Use the Price Builder to get an indication of costs

Making a booking

To request a booking, complete the form below.

Please note that your booking is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email from the Cemetery team.

Make a burial or ash interment enquiry

The Memorial Garden sits among established rose gardens in a tranquil setting. Ashes are interred (placed) in the lawn in front of the plaque, with memorial plaques placed around the edges. This area offers a calm and beautiful place for families to visit and reflect.

The plaque lawn section is available for both burials and ashes interments. These simple yet dignified memorials have become increasingly popular.

Plaques are placed on a concrete berm and surrounded by lawn, with the option to include a flower receptacle.

The memorial tree section provides a natural and peaceful setting for the interment of ashes.

Plaques can be placed around the base of the tree in four directions (north, south, east, and west). Each plaque area allows for up to four sets of ashes to be interred, enabling families to be remembered together.

The monumental section allows for both burials and ashes interments.

Graves are marked with a single upright granite headstone placed on a concrete berm at the head of the plot. This traditional style of memorial provides a lasting tribute.

The Monumental Ash Trees section offers a shared, landscaped setting for ash interments, designed to support family memorials in a natural environment.

Each area is formed by an octagonal concrete ash beam structure, with eight plots per octagon. Each plot can accommodate up to four sets of ashes, allowing families to be interred together over time. At the centre of each octagon is a specimen tree, with seasonal planting established around its base.

This creates a calm, garden-style setting for remembrance within the cemetery.

We have several dedicated areas within the cemetery for children’s burials and ash interments. These spaces are designed to provide a quiet, peaceful, and caring environment for families at a very difficult time.

The available sections are:

• Children’s Garden – a burial section set aside for burial of stillborn and ashes of children  only
• Children’s Monumental – a burial section that allows for memorial headstones
• Children’s Plaque Lawn – a burial section that allows for plaques set at ground level

There is also a closed area in the cemetery for stillborn. However this section is no longer available for future burials or interments but remains an important and respected part of the cemetery.

The deceased service personnel sections are reserved for eligible deceased service personnel and their spouses or partners.

Both burials and ashes interments can take place in these sections, honouring those who have served.

Designated areas within the cemetery are available for the scattering of ashes. These spaces provide a respectful and peaceful setting for families to remember their loved one.

Our Cemetery team can help guide you to appropriate locations and talk through the available options with you.

To help maintain the dignity and care of the grounds, ashes must not be scattered on existing graves or within garden areas.

All ash scatterings must be booked and approved by us in advance.