Burial options
Find out more about casket, ash and natural burial options, and veteran and Returned Service Association cemeteries.
Forms
Cemetery reservation
Apply online: Cemetery Reservation / Pre-Purchased Plot
Download: Cemetery Reservation / Pre-Purchased Plot
Application for interment
Apply online: Application for Interment / Issue of burial warrant
Download: Application for Interment / Issue of burial warrant
Hours
Burials usually take place during the following hours and burials outside of these hours are at Council’s discretion, and may incur additional fees:
- Monday to Friday 8am-2pm
- Saturday 8am-12pm (including public holiday weekends)
- Burials are not conducted on Christmas Day or Good Friday.
We require 48 business hours notice for burials by way of a completed application.
Fees and charges
Interments
All interments in the Waipā District Council will be double depth (2.27m) unless stated. The exceptions are Leamington and Pukerimu, which are single depth, so they can only hold one casket and up to four ash interments.
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Te Awamutu casket (burial) interment | $1155.00 |
| Hautapu casket (burial) interment | $1155.00 |
| All other casket (burial) interment | $1155.00 |
| Stillborn | $88.00 |
| Children under nine | $146.00 |
Ashes
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Ashes interment | $116.00 |
| After hours extra fees (see note 4) After 2:00pm Monday – Friday After 12:00 noon Weekends / Public Holidays Before 10.00am Monday or the day after a public holiday. | $180.00 per additional hour |
Disinterment / Reinterment
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Disinterment/Reinterment | At cost |
| Within 12 months | At cost |
| After 12 months | At cost |
| Reopening fee | At cost (+ Interment fees) |
Plot purchase (including maintenance)
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Te Awamutu adult plot | $2530.00 |
| Hautapu adult plot | $2530.00 |
| Adult plots (all other cemeteries) | $2520.00 |
| Children’s plots (aged under nine years) | $554.00 |
| Ashes (This fee does not include a plaque – the plaque shall be supplied by the applicant and shall be of such dimensions to fit on a standard berm) | $500.00 |
| RSA (see note 5) | No charge |
| Surcharge on reserved plots | $167.00 |
Natural burial fees
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Natural burial plot | $2143.00 |
| Natural burial interment | $1155.00 |
| Eco ashes plot | $500.00 |
| Eco ashes interment | $116.00 |
Memorial installation
| Description | Fees and charges 2024/25 |
| Permit processing fee | $55.00 |
Notes:
- All internments in Waipā District Council will be double depth (2.27m) unless stated.
- Plot fees do not include a memorial – upon approval by Council, a plaque or headstone shall be supplied and installed through a qualified mason. This is the responsibility of the applicant and shall be of such maximum dimensions as stated in our guidelines.
- Add 50% to all costs for persons that have lived less than five years within Waipā District during their lifetime.
- Interments outside these hours are accepted at the discretion of council.
- While no fee is charged for an RSA plot, standard council interment fees apply.
Casket burials
Purchasing or reserving a cemetery plot
You can reserve up to two plots at a time for a maximum of 60 years, giving you exclusive right of burial in those plots. There is a cost to reserve plots.
Ownership rights can be transferred to another person or to another cemetery with Council’s consent. Contact us to transfer ownership rights.
Lawn plots can hold two caskets and up to four ash interments. The exceptions are Leamington and Pukerimu, which are single depth, so they can only hold one casket and up to four ash interments.
Arranging a burial
Once a plot is chosen, a burial warrant needs to be completed by a funeral director or the family with information including:
- the funeral director details,
- time of burial,
- size of casket,
- details of the deceased,
- plot location.
Graves can only be dug by a Council sexton. If you wish to be present when the grave is being dug, make sure you let us know ahead of time. Family members are welcome to backfill the grave following a burial with the supervision of the Council sexton.
Ash burials
Ashes can be buried in three ways:
- In front of a memorial ashes berm, a concrete strip suitable for plaques or small headstones.
- In a lawn plot, the same as casket burials.
- In gardens of remembrance designated for the burial of ashes. Ashes are buried outside of the garden area and each plot can accommodate two sets of ashes.
All planting at the cemeteries and plot maintenance is Council’s responsibility. Family members aren’t permitted to plant trees, shrubs or flowers in any of our cemeteries.
Some individuals or families prefer to scatter ashes at a place of significance instead. If this is the case, please ensure you get permission from the landowner before you scatter any ashes. Ashes should not be scattered into waterways or bodies of water.
The scattering of ashes is not permitted in any of the Council’s cemeteries, parks or reserves.
Natural burials
While we have plans to add natural burial areas to more of our cemeteries in the future, Waipā’s natural burial section is currently a peaceful location within Leamington Cemetery.
What is a natural burial?
Everything used for a natural burial is biodegradable to return the body to the earth as fast as possible.
The body in a natural burial is not embalmed and is buried within the active soil layer. This speeds up the natural processes of returning the body and its nutrients to the soil. It reduces artificial and toxic chemicals and materials we introduce to the soil.
Caskets are to be made of untreated fibre or wood and non-toxic adhesives.
Any item buried with the body must be biodegradable. Personal items like accessories and jewellery cannot be buried in the casket.
Whilst ashes are not considered a form of natural burial, we have set aside an area in Leamington Cemetery for Eco Ashes interments because there is no benefit to the earth from the ashes. These plots have native grasses and low shrubs planted atop the ashes. The ashes must be in a fully biodegradable urn such as untreated wood or cardboard. The ashes must be treated to reduce their acidity, salinity and prevent any chemicals returning to the earth.
What's a natural burial plot like?
The plot for a natural burial is different to a traditional grave site. The natural burial area will be planted in native trees, shrubs and grasses in lieu of headstones.
Only one casket is buried in each plot and new plots are placed next to the last burial. We cannot allow reservations or allow plots to be picked in the natural burial section.
Plots for natural burials are larger than traditional plots. This will ensure there is enough space surrounding each grave. Plots are placed in a specific area so that the bush can grow as the cemetery grows.
Families can select a native plant to be planted atop the grave to mark the site instead of a headstone.
Families can place a biodegradable wooden marker with their loved one’s name carved or burned into it at the burial site. As this is a natural area, the intention is that these markers will eventually biodegrade.
The graves are identified by GPS co-ordinates and marked the Council’s cemetery map database. As the site reverts to native bush over time, these locations may not be exact, and access to the site may not always be possible.
Native plant or tree memorials
Families can select native trees and plants from our tree selection list.
Arrangements for the planting of memorials will be made after the burial. Planting will also be done at the best time of year to ensure healthy growth.
During the planting process, staff will prepare the hole before the tree is planted, providing support and care to you and your loved ones.
Veteran and RSA cemeteries
Veterans of the New Zealand Defence Force who have served overseas are entitled to a burial plot at no cost. These plots are available in the RSA sections of Te Awamutu and Hautapu.
Standard council interment fees still apply.RSA plots cannot be reserved.
Please be aware that the Council must verify with Veteran Affairs that individuals are eligible for an RSA plot. It can be helpful to provide us with:
- branch of service,
- service number,
- dates of service.
The list of eligible deployments for interment is viewable on the Veterans' Affairs website.
Plaques or monuments are arranged directly through New Zealand Veterans' Affairs.
If you have any queries, please contact Veterans Affairs on 0800 483 8372 or +64 4 495 2070 if calling from outside New Zealand.
Please note: If you’ve been a serving member, you may be interred in any RSA cemetery in New Zealand. The spouse of a Returned Services person may also be interred in the RSA section. This can be done whether they pass before or after the Returned Services person they will be interred with.
