Cemeteries

We manage two cemeteries within the district; one in the Ōtorohanga urban area and one in Kāwhia.

• Ōtorohanga Cemetery is located at 2 Karaka Road, Ōtorohanga
• Kāwhia Cemetery is located at Lake Road, Kāwhia

Arranging a Funeral

Generally, a funeral director should be contacted to arrange a burial or cremation.

To view Council's fees and charges for cemeteries, please visit this page: Cemeteries - Fees and Charges.

Download:

• Application for Cemetery Reservation Pre-Purchase [PDF 54 KB] [PDF, 54 KB]

Searching Cemetery Records

For online searching of the cemetery database, please visit this page: Cemetery Search.

Records are also available for searching at the Council offices in Ōtorohanga.

We are able to provide information to people if requested, free of charge. However, a small fee may apply if large volumes of information are requested.

Please contact us to request this information. 

Cemetery and Headstone Maintenance

Maintenance and sexton duties are provided by the Community Facilities contractor.

Their responsibilities include managing burials, as well as keeping the cemeteries in a tidy and presentable manner.

Cemetery maintenance, including lawn mowing, is provided on all plots in cemeteries.

Headstones and tombstone tops are the responsibility of families.

Cemetery and Headstone Maintenance

Maintenance and Sexton duties are provided by the Community Facilities contractor and responsibilities include keeping the cemeteries in a tidy and presentable manner, as well as managing burials.

Cemetery maintenance, including lawn mowing, is provided on all plots in cemeteries; however, headstones and tombstone tops are the responsibility of families.

Headstone and Plaque Dimensions

Ōtorohanga

Burial Berm base                                  900mm x 350mm

New Children’s Section base              900mm x 330mm

Ash Berm base                                      570mm x 300mm

Ash Wall plaque                                    305mm x 115mm

Kāwhia

Burial Berm base                                   900mm x 350mm

Ash Wall Plaque                                     358mm x 165mm

Services Cemeteries

Please refer to the RSA Memorial Handbook.

Memorial and Floral Tributes

A funeral director can advise you on the headstone and monument options available.

Floral tributes and adornments are permitted on the memorial headstone bases only in the lawn areas of the Ōtorohanga and Kāwhia cemeteries.

Adornments and tomb tops are permitted in the old tomb top areas of the District's cemeteries. 

Returned Services Areas

Services areas are available to those who have returned from active service.

These areas are administered on behalf of the Veterans Affairs Department.

For information on rules and eligibility, please contact the Council or your local Returned Servicemen's Association (RSA).