During your first contact with The Wilson Funeral Home, our funeral director will ask you whether the person who has died wished to be buried or cremated.
The choice – burial or cremation – determines which kind of medical certificate we are legally required to obtain.
Burial at Local Cemeteries / Urupā
Burials must take place in an approved cemetery unless there are exceptional circumstances and permission is given by the Ministry of Health. Most cemeteries are owned and operated by local authorities and some by trusts or iwi.
Our local cemeteries offer the choice of Upright Headstone or Plaque sections. You may find it useful to visit the cemetery to be sure about which style you would prefer. Some cemeteries will allow you to choose a plot when visiting.
Another matter for consideration is whether other family members may wish to be buried in the same plot in the future.
Some cemeteries will allow three people to be buried in the same plot, so you may wish to decide on single, double or triple depth as part of the funeral arrangements.
Mākara Cemetery
Address: 237 Mākara Road, Wellington
(View on Google Maps)
Karori Cemetery
Address: 76 Old Karori Road, Karori
(View on Google Maps)
Whenua Tapu Cemetery
Address: 293 Airlie Road, Pukerua Bay
(View on Google Maps)
Eco Burial
Mākara and Ōtaki Cemeteries offer the ability to have a natural burial there are special requirements that need to be followed if you wish to have a natural burial.
Natural burial at Mākara or Ōtaki Cemetery: the best option for the environment.
The unique sense of place of Mākara and Ōtaki Cemeteries has been achieved through a clear guiding concept: the central idea is that everything about the cemetery is as ‘natural’ as possible. In essence, we will not introduce anything to the cemetery that would interfere with or pollute environmental processes.
For example, to help natural processes, plots are dug only into the active soil layer, the deceased are not embalmed and they are buried in caskets of untreated, sustainable wood. Plots are filled with aerobic, organically active soil, and overplanted with a tree native to the area. The whole cemetery is gradually restored to native bush.
All of the body nutrients and matter will be gradually absorbed by the surrounding soil and plants. It is intended that the cemetery will become a permanent bush park – a living memorial to those buried there, a home for native flora and fauna, and a beautiful place for family and friends to visit.
Key features of a Natural Burial
No embalming: Bodies buried on this site must not be embalmed. The purpose of this requirement is to speed up the natural processes of returning the body and its nutrients to the soil, and to reduce the amount of artificial materials we introduce to the soil.
Burial in the upper soil layers: Bodies will be buried within the active soil layer or as close to it as possible. Depth will vary according to the soil conditions. Plots will be partly refilled with compost to help enrich the soil.
Trees: A native tree will be planted at the head or base of the plot. You can choose it from a dozen nursery plants. These trees are the basic building blocks of a native habitat restoration programme.
Over time, other trees will be planted over and around the plot. To improve survival, the
Wellington City Council will not plant trees for plots in summer.
Caskets: You must use a casket approved by Natural Burials. These caskets will be made from sustainably grown and harvested woods, with no chemicals or artificial compounds used in the treatment of the wood or the manufacture of the casket or its accessories.
Plot markers: A non-treated wooden post is sunk into the ground at the head or foot of the plot. You or your family can include on the post cap and sides a poker-burnt engraved inscription of your choice. The marker is designed not to be permanent. However, the plot and details of the person buried there are marked and drawn on a map held by the council.
