Hope Family Funerals certified

We are delighted to announce that Hope Family Funerals in Tauranga is now certified by us for natural burials. This certification is well deserved given their commitment to the concept and to meeting the needs of families. Hope Family Funerals is the only funeral director in the region to be certified by us, which means local families now have an option that meets our requirements for professionalism, personalisation, best natural burial practices, and environmentally conscious conduct.

A special thank you to Funeral Director Eva Wolf who was instrumental in bringing this to fruition.

Natural Burials certification of funeral directors is a voluntary nationwide system to provide assurance to the public wanting to use a natural cemetery, green their burial or adopt alternative methods. We inspect their practices to ensure they follow burial and body preparation protocols, understand and support the concepts. and offer natural choices as standard.

Certified Shrouds

We’ve noticed a definite upswing in use of shrouds for burials, even when caskets are used.

For the first decade of natural burials in NZ, we saw only one or two shrouds used a year. But public willingness and comfort is now changing rapidly.

So we are delighted to announce our certification for natural shrouds from Ake Ake Shrouds, made with love by the wonderful Karen Williamson.

Karen has been a long time supporter of the natural burials movement.

There is more information on her website, and she is always happy to answer questions and take commissions.

https://www.akeakeshrouds.co.nz/

Taupō’s Natural Burial zone formally certified

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Joint Media Release by Natural Burials Organisation and Taupō District Council:

3 August 2021

Taupō’s Natural Burial zone formally certified

A new natural burial zone recently opened by the Taupō District Council has now been certified by the Natural Burials organisation.

Natural burials use nature’s own decomposition process: non-embalmed bodies are placed in untreated wood caskets, and buried in shallower graves than usual, with trees grown in the area above. 

The zone in the main Taupō Cemetery on Rickit Street has been certified for meeting the organisation’s protocols governing manner of burial, for ease of access, room for expansion, and focus on public communication.

Mark Blackham, Natural Burials’ Founder and spokesperson, said the zone took pride of place near the entrance to the cemetery.

“The stand of native bush growing there will become iconic to the cemetery and will be a permanent memorial for those buried there. 

“We’re thrilled that the council has agreed to apply the principle of adding nothing synthetic to the soil, and to let nature do its work,” Mr Blackham said.

He said practical considerations were important for the success of natural burials, including access and layout. “It’s a great boon that it is very easy for families and friends, and future visitors, to get to the flat site and use it.”

Natural Burials applauded the commitment of the council and in particular, cemetery manager Kieran Smith, in delivering on the expectations of the local community.

In turn, Mr Smith congratulated his team on their hard work in making this increasingly popular option for people and families who hold strong environmental beliefs to be buried at Taupō Cemetery in line with their philosophies.

“We are all extremely proud to have successfully provided this important choice,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Christine Rankin said the new natural burial zone is a brilliant step forward in giving people in the Taupō District a greater choice in how they wish their remains to be returned to the earth.

“Now, if that is their wish, a person can ensure their body naturally reintegrates itself into the soil for the benefit of the environment.”

A group of Taupō residents had been advocating for natural burials, and over 50 people turned up to view the prepared site recently.

“Our surveys show that at least one third of locals are enthusiastic about natural burials. It gives many people some happiness to think their body will be there after they die. We can be confident there will be plenty of future users of the site,” Mr Blackham said.

Contact: Mark Blackham, 021 891 042

Taupo Natural burial zone opening

Mark Blackham, of Natural Burials, will be speaking at a public meeting to open the Taupo Natural Burial zone, this Thursday – 17 June.

10am, 17th June 2021

Taupo Funeral Services, 117 Ricket Street

Whakatane Cemetery and funeral directors certified

We’re pleased to announce the certification by Natural Burials of the Hillcrest natural burial area in Whakatane, and certification of the Willetts Funeral Services to provide natural burials.

The wonderful people at Whakatane District Council have created a lovely natural burial area at the Hillcrest Natural, and involved our organisation and locals every step of the way. We congratulate them on their effort and swift organisation of the cemetery.

The compassionate and skilled staff at Willetts Funeral Services were keen right from the start. We congratulate them on easily passing our rigorous standard for having the capability, facilities and caring approach necessary to provide natural burial services.

Download the Whakatāne Natural Burials Information Guide – (PDF, 2.7 MB)

Whakatāne Natural Burial Tree List – (PDF, 831 KB)

Whakatane natural cemetery

We’re in Whakatane on Monday 7th September to address a public meeting and talk with the council about their cemetery plans.

Come along to the public meeting. 11am. War Memorial Hall.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1329614447429673

New casket maker certified: Windsor

We welcome Windsor Industries to our family of casket makers with products that meet the Natural Burials standard.

Windsor have embraced the environmental ethos whole-heartedly. We were impressed by their dedication to ensuring the background of all the components of their eco caskets were thoroughly assessed.

Their Waterford and Dorset ranges are particularly suitable.

Check out their website for more.

Book update

For those waiting, our third reprint of the book is now printed and in stock. If you have been waiting, or have had a book or living will on order and have not yet received it, please email  mark@aqa.kzx.mybluehost.me.

Gisborne district / Tairawhiti

We now have a local natural burial advocacy group in the Gisborne / tairawhiti region. If you’d like to help them organise for a cemetery in the region get in touch with Nisbet Smith on 021 204 1080. Local groups are absolutely instrumental to convincing local authorities to set up natural cemeteries.

Kiwis ahead of Italian designers

The natural burials concept touted by Italian designers on a tour of New Zealand arranged by the Italian Embassy, started here ten years ago, and the nation now has a dozen natural cemeteries.

Mark Blackham, founder of the Natural Burials organisation, said today that the Italian’s idea of burials generating forests was excellent, which is why New Zealand had already done it.

“The Italians are at least ten years too late – we’ve already had the idea and are doing it.

“There are about a dozen natural cemeteries, with more being planned by local authorities.

“The practical and environmental lessons we’ve learned in making these cemeteries has been exported around the world,” Mark said.

Mark explained that the modern idea of natural burial originated in the UK in the early 1990s, where there are now hundreds of natural burial grounds. The first cemetery outside the UK was in Wellington New Zealand.

“A natural burial in New Zealand involves no embalming (or natural embalming), shallow burial in untreated wood caskets, trees planted over the body, and regeneration of cemeteries into forests.

“Every local casket manufacturer makes natural coffins from various untreated woods, including practical versions made from cardboard, flax and willow.”

“It’s a wonderful concept in tune with New Zealander’s love of nature. Hundreds of New Zealanders have been buried naturally. Over 30% say they would probably or definitely use it if available,” Mark said.

Natural Burials is a not for profit organisation started 18 years ago, to initiate, promote and oversee natural cemeteries. It works with Councils to set up the cemeteries following environmental protocols, certifies funeral directors and caskets, and promotes availability regionally.

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