The Whakatāne District Council has adopted new guidelines which will allow cremations and funerals to be arranged privately, without engaging a funeral director’s services.

Reporting to the Council’s Projects and Services Committee last week, Places and Open Spaces Manager Mike Naude said staff had consulted widely to confirm the practices currently applying elsewhere in New Zealand and the policy guidelines which would be needed to “meet legislative requirements, industry best practice and the practicalities of managing a cemetery and crematorium facility”.

“Since the Whakatāne Crematorium began operating in 2009, the Council’s policy has been not to accept cremations without the involvement of a funeral director,” he said. “That reflected the Council’s desire to ensure that all of the necessary documentation was completed, without adding to the stress experienced by grieving families. Avoiding possible damage to the cremator as a result of caskets being presented containing unwanted items was also a consideration.”

Mr Naude said a check of other councils’ policies indicated that cremations without the assistance of a funeral director were allowed, providing strict guidelines were followed. All of the councils spoken to indicated that the demand for privately arranged cremations was relatively low.

The committee agreed that privately arranged cremations should be accepted and adopted draft guidelines advising families or other responsible people on the legal requirements involved. The new policy takes effect immediately, and Mr Naude said additional staff involvement was anticipated to assist bereaved families through the process.