The Centre for Natural Burial

By Kapiti Coast District Council

Kapiti Coast residents are being asked their views on whether natural burials should be allowed on the Kapiti Coast and where such burials should take place.

“We were approached by the Kapiti Natural Burial Association late last year and asked to investigate the possibility of a natural burial cemetery,” Mayor Alan Milne said.

“While it’s unlikely a majority of people would want to take advantage of a natural burial option, it is something that’s growing in popularity overseas and, it’s something the Council is happy to give consideration to and to consult upon.”

The natural burial movement began in the United Kingdom in 1991 and the method is now used in more than 100 cemeteries worldwide to inter thousands of people each year.

In natural burial bodies are wrapped in a shroud or put in a light eco-coffin of untreated, sustainably-grown wood and buried one metre deep where micro-organisms are active.  The bodies are not embalmed to speed return of the body to the earth and to reduce harm to soil from toxic embalming fluids.  A native tree is planted at the head of the grave so the cemetery site is gradually restored to a full native or natural ecosystem with birds and native flora.

Proponents of natural burial believe keeping the interment process as natural as possible has significant advantages over conventional methods.  There is a shorter decomposition period and faster return of body nutrients to the environment, it promotes native bush regeneration and development of a carbon sink and fauna habitat, releases fewer toxins than traditional methods and uses less energy and produces fewer carbon emissions.

“The Council responded to the request by formulating a Draft Policy and we’ve investigated a number of Cemetery site options,” Council’s chief executive Leigh Halstead said.

“The proposal outlines details of the proposed Policy, and suggests three possible cemetery site options.  We’re open to comments on both the policy and the burial sites.  There may be other sites people consider more suitable and we’d be pleased to receive their suggestions,” Mr Halstead said.

Submissions on the policy and the burial site proposals will close on August 27. A copy of the proposal and a submission form.