Natural Burial Area Opens in Awanui Cemetery

The first area for natural burials in New Plymouth District will open for public use on Thursday (14 April).

A section of New Plymouth’s Awanui Cemetery has been designated for natural burials, accepting caskets made from chemically untreated and unprocessed soft woods and bodies that are not embalmed. Each plot will be planted with a tree or shrub.

Reserves Planner Warren Dalgleish says the establishment of the natural burial site is in response to requests from the public for the option to be available.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer this service to those who are interested in a more environmentally friendly burial,” he says.

Mark Blackham, founder of Natural Burials, says he is delighted that Awanui is the second certified natural burial cemetery in the country.

“The cemetery meets our requirements for location, bush regeneration, and burial method,” he says. “The cemetery is in an elevated spot close to the city, and will gradually turn into beautiful regenerated native bush.

“According to our research around 30 per cent of people in Taranaki would like to choose a natural burial, so we congratulate the Council for working with our organisation to meet the demand of its citizens,” says Mr Blackham.

Awanui’s natural burial area is on a hill above the access road, and below a new area of lawn cemetery that is currently under development in the north-east corner of the cemetery.

Anyone interested in considering a natural burial can talk with their funeral director.

NPDC is also looking at natural burial sites at Oakura and Waitara cemeteries. “We’ll see how successful the Awanui site is before working on a development plan for Oakura Cemetery, and Waitara’s natural burial area will be considered next year as part of the 2012-2022 Long-Term Plan,” says Mr Dalgleish.