Auckland seeking feedback on increasing burial space within Waikumete Cemetery

While existing cemeteries provide adequate body burial capacity in the north and south of the region, there is a need to increase burial space for communities in the west.

Aucklanders can now have their say on potential development zones to create additional burial capacity within Waikumete Cemetery.

Auckland Council is seeking feedback on where additional burial capacity can be created, as well as acceptable alternative burial methods to guide the Waikumete Cemetery Expansion Assessment. Feedback can be submitted via the council website from 5 March until 2 April 2019.

While existing cemeteries provide adequate body burial capacity in the north and south of the region, there is a need to increase burial space for communities in the west. There is currently less than five years' demand of lawn burial plots available for purchase at Waikumete, and no remaining areas within the cemetery that allow easy development of additional burial plots.

"Waikumete Cemetery is of historical, cultural and ecological significance and we're at a point where development for new burial areas is challenging," says Councillor Penny Hulse, Auckland Council's Environment and Community Committee Chair.