Whakatāne District Council is seeking land suitable for a new cemetery.

Hillcrest Cemetery is the District’s primary cemetery and is expected to reach full capacity by 2028. Council has been investigating suitable land options, but to date has been unsuccessful. Land is needed as soon as possible in order to have an operational cemetery before this date.

General Manager Community Experience Georgina Fletcher says cemeteries not only a provide a place where loved ones can be laid to rest peacefully with dignity and respect; they’re also for whānau, friends and communities to reflect, and to celebrate and remember those who have passed on. 

“To provide a place where we can achieve these things, we have a number of specifications we’re seeking to meet in acquiring suitable land,” she says. “These include a central location to ensure good access and allow easy commuting, ideally within a 15-20-minute drive of Whakatāne.”

“We’ll need 11-17 hectares of predominantly flat or rolling land to cater for the requirements of the community over the next 100 years which would also include the provision of an area for natural burials. It’s important that the land is not flood-prone and therefore elevated and away from the coast.”

The Council administers six cemeteries within the Whakatāne District. The Hillcrest Cemetery is the largest cemetery, and caters for the population of Whakatāne and Ōhope, as well as the wider district.

Mrs Fletcher notes that rural cemeteries are limited in size, and further away from the district’s main population and therefore not suitable as an alternative once Hillcrest Cemetery has reached its capacity.

“We’re interested in hearing from landowners who believe they may have a suitable site for the district’s next cemetery when considering the specifications that have been outlined.”