Mark Blackham, Founder of Natural Burials, told over 50 people attending
an evening lecture in Tauranga today that there were many ways to plan
to "green their death" despite the continued absence of natural
cemeteries in New Zealand.
Natural Burials is working with a number of local authorities to establish
natural cemeteries, but legal and planning issues are creating long delays.
Mr Blackham said at the "sustainable Backyard" conference in
Tauranga, that the two essential components of a natural burial were being
buried "naturally" with a tree over the plot, and in a place
that was being restored to its native environment.
He said while those two components had not yet been combined in one natural
cemetery, an alternative was to be buried in a traditional cemetery:
Choose from our own range or other caskets we have
certified. Buy these direct from our certified funeral
directors - a small donation is made to Natural Burials
with each casket purchased.
