Let's Talk About a Draft Cemeteries Policy

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Consultation has concluded

Cemeteries play an important role in our community. It's essential that Council-managed cemeteries are well-maintained and peaceful places for family and friends.

To guide how Council cemeteries are managed day-to-day, and to cover things like memorial headstones, grave decorations, gravesite maintenance, the natural environment and the reservation of ashes or burial plots, we’ve drafted a Cemetery Policy and want to hear your thoughts.

Visit our website to find out more about the seven cemeteries managed by the Council, which include Rangiora Park Lawn Cemetery, Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Kaiapoi Anglican Cemetery, Oxford Public Cemetery, Cust-West Eyreton Cemetery and Birch Hill Cemetery.

Why we're developing a Cemetery Policy:

In October 2020 the Cemetery Strategy was adopted by Council, which identified the need for a policy to ensure effective and consistent management of the day-to-day operation of Council managed cemeteries.

  • We need to make sure we meet the short and long-term needs of our growing and changing District.
  • A Cemetery Policy will help to ensure management of Council cemeteries is effective and consistent throughout the Waimakariri District.
  • The Council has a statutory responsibility under the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 to provide for burials and manage cemeteries.

The Policy will:

  • Help us meet the short and long-term needs of our growing and changing District.
  • Ensure that the management of Council cemeteries is effective and consistent throughout the Waimakariri District.
  • Make sure we meet the statutory responsibilities of the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 to provide for burials and manage cemeteries.

The Policy outlines:

  • Interments
  • Recognition of religious and cultural requirements
  • Safety
  • Installation and maintenance of monuments, headstones and structures
  • Disinterment
  • Cemetery records
  • Cemetery maintenance
  • Ceding of cemeteries to Council (this is the handover of ownership or management of a cemetery by another cemetery manager or organisation)

We'd love to hear what you think. You can click here to make a formal submission, or tell us your thoughts on the quick poll below.

We will be holding public hearings on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 March 2021 where a Hearings Panel will listen to oral submissions.



Cemeteries play an important role in our community. It's essential that Council-managed cemeteries are well-maintained and peaceful places for family and friends.

To guide how Council cemeteries are managed day-to-day, and to cover things like memorial headstones, grave decorations, gravesite maintenance, the natural environment and the reservation of ashes or burial plots, we’ve drafted a Cemetery Policy and want to hear your thoughts.

Visit our website to find out more about the seven cemeteries managed by the Council, which include Rangiora Park Lawn Cemetery, Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Kaiapoi Anglican Cemetery, Oxford Public Cemetery, Cust-West Eyreton Cemetery and Birch Hill Cemetery.

Why we're developing a Cemetery Policy:

In October 2020 the Cemetery Strategy was adopted by Council, which identified the need for a policy to ensure effective and consistent management of the day-to-day operation of Council managed cemeteries.

  • We need to make sure we meet the short and long-term needs of our growing and changing District.
  • A Cemetery Policy will help to ensure management of Council cemeteries is effective and consistent throughout the Waimakariri District.
  • The Council has a statutory responsibility under the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 to provide for burials and manage cemeteries.

The Policy will:

  • Help us meet the short and long-term needs of our growing and changing District.
  • Ensure that the management of Council cemeteries is effective and consistent throughout the Waimakariri District.
  • Make sure we meet the statutory responsibilities of the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 to provide for burials and manage cemeteries.

The Policy outlines:

  • Interments
  • Recognition of religious and cultural requirements
  • Safety
  • Installation and maintenance of monuments, headstones and structures
  • Disinterment
  • Cemetery records
  • Cemetery maintenance
  • Ceding of cemeteries to Council (this is the handover of ownership or management of a cemetery by another cemetery manager or organisation)

We'd love to hear what you think. You can click here to make a formal submission, or tell us your thoughts on the quick poll below.

We will be holding public hearings on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 March 2021 where a Hearings Panel will listen to oral submissions.



Consultation has concluded

  • Update Following Feedback Received

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    Thanks to those who took the time to contribute feedback to the draft Cemetery Policy public consultation.

    We had 16 participants in our ‘quick poll’, with 14 in support of the key themes of the Policy, and two people not in support.

    Further to the poll, we had ten formal submissions with two people wanting to present their views in person.

    Most submissions were in support of the policy with additional suggestions that included:

    • Research into ‘eco’ burials and ways of minimising the impact of cemeteries on the environment
    • Addressing the issue of people parking in the Rangiora Lawn Cemetery area to watch sport in the adjacent sports ground and provision of additional seating
    • Submitters were concerned about cemetery and headstone maintenance with some identifying specific areas of concern.
    • Funeral industry representatives have put forward suggestions regarding the size and placement of headstones.

    Some very useful information has been received and was discussed by the Council’s Hearing Panel on Wednesday 3 March. Following the hearing, the Council met on Tuesday 6 April to formally adopt the Policy.

    Thanks again for sharing your views with us and we look forward to your input into future projects.

    Kind regards,

    The Project Team