Burials, ash plots and scattering

The types of burial plots available are:

Plot type: Standard

Cemetery: Maunu

Interment per plot: 2

Description: Standard lawn plot with concrete berm for memorial placement.

Plot type: Family

Cemetery: Maunu

Interment per plot: 2

Description: Family Burial Area. Plots are set back to back with an area set between for memorial placement.

Plot type: Natural

Cemetery: Maunu

Interment per plot: 1

Description: Natural Burial Area. There are some restrictions within this area, refer to the Natural Burial section below

Plot type: Children

Cemetery: Maunu and Onerahi

Interment per plot: 1

Description: Each cemetery has sections set aside for children up to the age of 12 years old.

Plot type: Stillborn

Cemetery: Maunu

Interment per plot: 1

Description: The stillborn walkway in the Children's Forest Glade provides an option for families without having to purchase a full size children's plot.

Before your arrival, the cemetery team will prepare the plot. Due to health and safety regulations, plots can only be dug by cemetery staff.

Cemetery staff will meet with the funeral director or a family member before the burial to pass on any health and safety issues, and ensure correct procedures are followed i.e. direction of casket, how the lowering device works.

If no funeral director is present, then a family member will need to make themselves known to cemetery staff for this briefing.

The funeral director or family member will then conduct the funeral and lower the casket when required.

Covering the casket

If family wish to cover the casket with soil themselves once it has been lowered, staff will need to be notified when they are ready start. Staff will remove any mats and/or lowering device and provide shovels.

The family will need to comply with health and safety regulations and direction from staff. Closed footwear is mandatory.

All our cemeteries have a large amount of rock in the soil and to keep fees lower, we do not buy soil to backfill plots. What has been removed during digging is what is used to cover the casket.

If backfilling by the family is not requested, staff will wait until all family members have left, then fill the plot in.

Maunu Cemetery offers a natural approach to burials with plots set in existing native bush.

Specific plots can't be purchased in this area, instead when a plot is required, the next suitable position within the area is assigned.

What is a natural burial?

The idea is that the burial process is as natural as possible, with minimal impact to the environment. This means there are certain restrictions on both embalming and caskets. 

Burials plots are dug to 800mm, so the casket sits in an active layer of earth, breaking down at a faster rate than a traditional burial plot. Because of this, plots are only suitable for single burials.

What is allowed?

Types of cremains plots and scattering areas available

Cremains interment instructions for families

When you arrive at the cemetery, make your way to the plot.

Once there, you will find a small soil box next to the plot. The plot itself will have a hole dug with a board covering it. There will also be a section of turf on top of the board.

Move the board to the side and place the ashes into the plot.

You can then back fill the plot yourself if you wish, you will find a small trowel inside the soil box. Otherwise place the board back over the plot and cemetery staff will attend to it once all family have left.

If your booking is on a weekend, Monday or public holiday, staff will attend to it on the next business day. For this reason, it is recommended families back fill the plot themselves on these days.

Maunu Cemetery offers a dedicated area for natural cremains interments where families can plant a tree to remember their loved one.

Specific plots cannot be purchased in the area, instead when a plot is required, the next suitable position within the area is assigned.

What is a natural cremains interment?

A natural ash interment is as natural as possible, with minimal impact to the environment. This means there are certain restrictions on what urns can be used, along with the method of interment.

Interments in this area are dug as shallow as possible with a tree planted directly on top of the urn. This is so the urn sits in the active layer of earth and with the addition of the tree, will break down at a faster rate than that of a traditional interment plot.

Because of this, plots are only suitable for single interments, although multiple cremains can be interred at the same time.  Due to the type of interment, future disinterments are not possible.

What is allowed?

Choose a tree

Both the interment cost and tree are included in the purchase of a natural ash interment plot. You can pick a tree from the list below and it will be supplied to you at interment time.

• Kauri - Agathis australis
• Tarairi - Beilschmiedia tarairi
• Miro - Prumnopitys ferruginea
• Matai - Prumnopitys taxifolia

When you purchase a plot for burial or cremains interment, you gain the exclusive right of burial for that plot.

This means you purchase the right to be buried in that plot; but it does not mean you own the piece of land on which the plot sits. 

Exclusive right of burial expires after 60 years if the plot has not had a burial or cremains interment take place.