Dust to dust, with a little natural help
KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post
It is no longer fashionable to leave a large carbon footprint … even after you are dead.
Environmentally friendly Kapiti Coasters are lobbying for an eco-friendly burial park. Jocelyn Thornton spearheaded the establishment of the Kapiti Natural Burial Group two years ago with the goal of creating a park where native trees would be planted at the head of graves to create forests.
Natural - or “green” - burials involve laying the dead to rest without embalming, using a light eco-coffin of untreated, sustainably grown wood. The coffin is buried about a metre deep, where active micro-organisms ensure decomposition within 10 years, compared with up to 100 years for traditional coffins. “Embalming fluids can harm the soil. Families and friends can dig the graves, it is a wonderful concept that leaves no carbon footprint. Restoring native forests creates peaceful environments - a lovely idea in a lot of people’s minds,” Ms Thornton said.
An engraved stone could be placed at the foot of the tree and environmental group Nga Uruora has offered saplings.
The park would be the second of its kind in New Zealand. Waitakere District Council has provided an area for natural forest burials at Waikumete cemetery since 1997, but only four people had been buried there by this year.
A natural burial park is also expected to open in Makara, Wellington, this year and Tasman district is investigating the concept.
Kapiti council decided last year to investigate a natural burial area. Last week it suggested three options - Otaki cemetery, Pharazyn Reserve or acquiring land - to go out for public consultation for a month.
Parks and reserves manager Mike Cardiff said the council was aware of concern about animals digging up remains, shallow graves presenting possible health problems, and slips or floods.
“There are concerns some people wanting a natural burial may die with a disease that needs to be contained. Bodies decompose at a rapid rate - if it is not embalmed there could be a health risk.
“How do you ensure a natural body is being buried, when most people die filled with drugs, medicines and chemicals in the last stages of life?”