Locations
South Waikato district council maintains cemeteries in three different locations including Putāruru, Tīrau, and Tokoroa. There are four cemeteries operating in the district, with two in Putāruru, one in Tīrau, and one in Tokoroa.
Descriptions
All of the cemeteries in the district are well-maintained, and three of the sites have ample room for expansion. Traditional burial plots are available adjacent to permanent concrete berms, which have been provided for the placement of plaques or headstones. Ash plots provide a permanent resting place for cremated remains, where the concrete berms are in traditional rows, or surrounding attractively planted gardens.
Opening Hours
The cemeteries in Putāruru and Tirau are open to the public seven days a week. The Tokoroa cemetery is locked at night and is generally opened between 6am and 7am in the morning. It is locked at 9pm; if there are people in the cemetery at that time, the security company returns at a later hour.
How to Apply
Ahandbook is available from the offices and online, which provides general information and requirements for memorials, fees and charges, application forms, and a detailed map of the cemeteries. All plots may be reserved for future use, with the exception of the Returned Services sections. An exclusive right of burial may be sold by the Council and may be held for eighty years. Council will not repurchase any presold plots without valid reason. Any person is entitled to purchase an exclusive right of burial for no more than two plots. Any relative of a person who has bought such right may purchase two adjacent plots only at the time of burial. Interments may take place between the hours of 10am and 3.30pm on Mondays to Sundays inclusive. Cemeteries are closed for all interments on public holidays.
Fees
A fee is required for the benefit of pre-selecting a plot. For more information on fees and charges, please refer to thehandbook available from the offices and online.
Rules and Regulations
To ensure the safety and respectful use of the cemeteries, several rules and regulations must be followed. For example, families may request Council to have the grave levelled before the 90-day period. Once the grave has been levelled and re-turfed, items are permitted to be placed on grave areas to a maximum length of one metre from the concrete berm only. No hard materials such as concrete, timber edging, or pavers are permitted. Adornments must not inhibit the proper maintenance of the Cemetery or other graves. No person may plant any tree, shrub, plant, or other vegetation in any Cemetery. No person shall take a dog into a Cemetery unless it is a certified disability assist dog under the Dog Control Act 1996, which must remain restrained at all times. No person shall consume, bring, or possess alcohol between the hours of 7.00pm and 8.00am within any Cemetery.
Search Cemetery Records
Council provides a cemetery search tool on theirwebsite, allowing users to search interment and placement records.
For more information phone: +64 7 885 0340, or email: info@southwaikato.govt.nz