Te Puke Cemetery - Natural Burials

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Kia ora, welcome to the Te Puke Cemetery – Natural Burials project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including latest updates, and a timeline of upcoming steps.

About the project

Cemeteries provide families, friends and visitors a place to remember and honour their loved ones. Attitudes toward burial and remembrance are changing, with people seeking a wider range of options.

As part of our 2021 – 2031 Long Term Plan pre-engagement, we asked the community what burial options they would like to see provided in the future. Of the 505 people who responded, 132 told us they would like natural burials to be offered in the District.

Te Puke Cemetery was identified as a suitable location, and with the commitment of Council funding and support from Natural Burials Te Puke, a concept plan was developed in line with Natural Burials New Zealand guidelines.

The natural burial site is also supported by the Tapuika iwi, aligning closely with their values of respecting the whenua (land) and te ao turoa (natural environment).

Preparing the site

Before work started, several practical and regulatory matters needed to be addressed, including the amendment of Council’s Cemeteries Bylaw to allow for the different burial requirements associated with natural burials, such as shallower grave depths.

In April 2026, the area was established with the planting of seven trees in the shape of a koru.

As part of the overall development of the cemetery, work is currently underway to build a shared pathway around the perimeter, and to extend the internal roadway.

Both of these will make the natural burial area, which is located to the rear of the site, easily accessible.

It is expected that the area will be ready for natural burials by the end of 2026.

Find out more

You can follow progress here, or on the Natural Burials Te Puke Facebook page.

Further details, including how to arrange a burial, will be provided closer to the opening date. In the meantime, you can find out more about natural burial practices and what’s involved at Natural Burials New Zealand.

The natural burial area is outlined above in red.



Kia ora, welcome to the Te Puke Cemetery – Natural Burials project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including latest updates, and a timeline of upcoming steps.

About the project

Cemeteries provide families, friends and visitors a place to remember and honour their loved ones. Attitudes toward burial and remembrance are changing, with people seeking a wider range of options.

As part of our 2021 – 2031 Long Term Plan pre-engagement, we asked the community what burial options they would like to see provided in the future. Of the 505 people who responded, 132 told us they would like natural burials to be offered in the District.

Te Puke Cemetery was identified as a suitable location, and with the commitment of Council funding and support from Natural Burials Te Puke, a concept plan was developed in line with Natural Burials New Zealand guidelines.

The natural burial site is also supported by the Tapuika iwi, aligning closely with their values of respecting the whenua (land) and te ao turoa (natural environment).

Preparing the site

Before work started, several practical and regulatory matters needed to be addressed, including the amendment of Council’s Cemeteries Bylaw to allow for the different burial requirements associated with natural burials, such as shallower grave depths.

In April 2026, the area was established with the planting of seven trees in the shape of a koru.

As part of the overall development of the cemetery, work is currently underway to build a shared pathway around the perimeter, and to extend the internal roadway.

Both of these will make the natural burial area, which is located to the rear of the site, easily accessible.

It is expected that the area will be ready for natural burials by the end of 2026.

Find out more

You can follow progress here, or on the Natural Burials Te Puke Facebook page.

Further details, including how to arrange a burial, will be provided closer to the opening date. In the meantime, you can find out more about natural burial practices and what’s involved at Natural Burials New Zealand.

The natural burial area is outlined above in red.