MEMORIALS AND PLAQUES   

Following are the requirements for erecting a memorial or plaque in Council administered cemeteries.

Council provides, in the lawn sections (blocks) of the cemeteries, a concrete strip referred to as a berm and which is laid level with the ground. The berm is the base for memorials to be fitted onto. In the older parts of the cemeteries a berm is not provided by Council, the applicant must provide one at their own cost.

For upright memorials in the lawn section of the cemeteries:

  1. The foundation base for all upright memorials shall not be higher than 150mm at level.
  2. The width of the foundation base for upright memorials shall be no greater than 300mm and where required, allow insets for flower containers.
  3. The length of the foundation base shall be no longer than 1000mm (1metre) in the case of a single plot; or 2000mm (2 metres) in the case of a double (family) plot.
  4. The memorial affixed to the foundation base, shall be no higher than 1500mm (1.5metres) from ground level (top of the berm). All memorials shall be constructed with sound engineering principles and shall be aesthetically acceptable to the controlling authority. The construction plan of the proposed memorial shall be submitted to and approved by the local authority before it can be placed in the cemetery.
  5. A setback of 150mm shall be provided between the front edge of the berm and the front edge of the foundation base. This is to assist Council by providing a mowing strip.
  6. No erected memorials shall be of any other material than granite or similar suitable material approved by the local authority. All concrete surfaces shall be grey. No coloured cements shall be added or used.
  7. When constructing foundation bases and fitting memorials, no damage or soiling of the grassed areas, neighbouring memorials, berms, roads or paths.
  8. All memorials shall be kept in good repair by the owners of the plot (including their assignee).
  9. Memorials of any kind which fall into a state of decay or disrepair may be removed by order of the local authority, an in situ photographic record of the memorial shall be taken before removal and filed with cemetery records.
  10. For ashes gardens where only plaques are permitted, the dimension of the plaque shall be up to 230mm in height and up to 380mm in length. They shall be constructed of granite or bronze.
  11. For ashes gardens at Pukerimu Cemetery Paeroa where upright memorials are permitted, the foundation base shall be up to 300mm in height (above the berm). The base shall be up to 300mm in width and 600mm in length. The memorial affixed to the base shall be up to 400 mm in height but no longer than 500mm.

A permit to install a memorial or plaque must be obtained before any work is carried out in the cemeteries. Council will remove any memorial or plaque installed without a permit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: No work is to be carried out to install or replace headstones at the cemetery by any unqualified person i.e. general public.  All work is to be completed in a professional workmanlike manner and is subject to our final approval i.e. work may be requested to be redone.  Any request to install or replace headstones to be completed by someone other than a qualified monumental mason or funeral director will need to be considered by the Parks & Reserves Manager.

Permit to Install/Replace Memorials and Plaques(18KB)

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